Environment minister Jairam Ramesh today said that soon National Green Tribunals would be set up in the country after Parliament gives its nod.
"The discussion of setting up National Green Tribunal has already began in the Parliament and once both the houses gives its approval, specialised courts for trying cases under environment and forest laws will be set up in the country,"
Ramesh told reporters after the seventh convocation of the
Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM).
"It will be like circuit-bench of the courts and four such benches in different regions of the country including Bhopal will be set up in the country where all cases related to environment and forest can be filed by anyone," he said.
The minister hoped that it will become operational by the end of this year.
Referring to the formation of National Environment Protection Agency (NEPA), he said that he will present a bill on the issue in Parliament in August and it will take care of implementation of laws related to environment.
He clarified that after NEPA comes into existence, the Central and State Pollution Control Boards will focus on testing aspects while monitoring of environmental laws, licencing and administrative part would come under the purview of NEPA.
To a question on division of Environment and forest ministry, he said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is also of the opinion that under the ministry separate departments of forest and wildlife and environment should be created so that both the departments can focus on their respective fields in a better way.
The minister also informed that for the first time in the country the 13th Finance Commission has granted a special grant of Rs 5,000 crore for the conservation of forests to the states. The states can see it as a 'Green Bonus'.
The IIFM report played a crucial role in getting this Rs 5,000 crore grant, Ramesh said.
As demanded by the chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Orissa among others that
they should get more funds for retaining their forest cover,
MP has been provided Rs 490 crore for the conservation of
forest and wildlife, he said.
After Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh got the maximum allocation for the conservation of its forest and wildlife, the minister said.
He also said that he has sent a proposal to the president that like police, forest officials and employees should also be awarded with president's Gallantry Medal on the Republic Day.
