Fast-track tribunal first sitting begins

BHOPAL: National Green Tribunal, a special fast-track court set up for the speedy disposal of cases related to environment, took up case related to a complaint from Chhattisgarh on Thursday. This was the first sitting of the tribunal in Bhopal.
The tribunal, comprising Justice A S Naidu and expert technical member G K Pandey, considered the case of Jan Chetna Vs Union of India and M/s Scania Steel and Power Limited at Raigarh in Chhattisgarh.Senior counsel Raj Panjwali, advocate Ritwik Dutta, appeared in the matter.
Jan Chetna, a Chhattisgarh-based NGO led by Ramesh Agrawal, has been alleging that all necessary sanctions for the expansion of the project were granted without holding public hearing. Later at a welcome function, organized by Law firm Juris Consultus, Justice A K Naidu pointed out the need for civil society, environmental and scientific experts and bar to work together for the protection of environment.
Tribunal’s expert member G K Pandey said environment protection and development should go together keeping in view the importance of the two. Advocate Shantanoo Saxena, environmental consultant of Juris Consultus, a law firm, said it is a matter of great pride for the city of Bhopal to have the National Green Tribunal bench.