National Green Tribunal sets up bench in Chennai

Chennai:

The southern bench of National Green Tribunal in Chennai will start hearing cases from November 2.

The two- member bench will consist of Justice M Chockalingam as a judicial member and Dr R Nagendran, as expert member. Before assuming their office in Chennai they were serving at the principal bench in New Delhi.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Justice Chockalingam and Dr Nagendran said that the jurisdiction of the southern bench would extend to four states and two union territories. These include Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu besides union territories of Puducherry and Lakshwadweep.

The bench started functioning from Tuesday and it will start hearing cases from November 2 afternoon onwards, said Dr Nagendran.

Justice Chockalingam said the green tribunal has got original and appellate jurisdiction on matters pertaining to seven acts. These include The Water (Prevention and Copntrol of Pollution) Act 1974, The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977, The Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, The Air (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act 1981, The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 and The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 related to environment.

Interestingly, the tribunal is receiving a large number of cases for adjudication which involve major infrastructure projects of national importance such as thermal power plants, hydroelectric projects, mining projects apart from coastal regulation zone issues, forest conservation matters, pollution related cases invoking the provisions of Air Act and Water Act. Besides, a number of transferred cases from High Courts and Supreme Courts are being heard by the tribunal.

“We will be taking up cases on the fast track mode,” said Chockalingam. Interestingly, the tribunal is expected to hear high profile cases, which include new legislative assembly cum secretariat complex constructed at Omanthurar Estate, Chemplast Sanmar, Alfa Infraprop thermal power plant at Vizianagar in Andhra Pradesh, Udupi Power corporation at Yellur and Chemfab Alkalis Limited versus Government of Puducherry.