The National Green Tribunal Bill, 2009 (NGT), will be tabled tomorrow in the Lok Sabha for discussion and on December 21 in the Rajya Sabha.
The bill will establish an autonomous tribunal, independent of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, for environmental clearance of development projects and providing relief and compensation to people affected by natural calamities.
As these cases are inter-sectoral, the NGT will reduce the load of environmental cases of a civil nature pending in higher courts and help in speedy disposal of such cases, according to minister Jairam Ramesh.
The Union Cabinet gave its approval to the proposal to set up the Tribunal last Thursday.
The Central Pollution Control Board will approach NGT on behalf of affected persons for grant of relief or compensation or settlement of disputes.
The NGT is meant to ensure expeditious disposal of cases on environmental protection, conservation of forests and other natural resources, thereby strengthening environmental adjudication and settlement of disputes.
“Since the NGT is proposed to have judicial members, as well as expert members, it is likely to result in effective disposal of environmental cases which involve multi-disciplinary issues,” said an official.
