The National Green Tribunal has rejected a petition by the Union ministry of environment and forests seeking to review an order that asks the government to adhere to the Gadgil report.
The tribunal headed by Justice A.S. Naidu maintained that the ministry should grant environmental clearance to the developmental projects in Western Ghats region only in consonance with the provisions made in the Gadgil report. This could mean that green signal for the Athirapally hydel project is unlikely.
Seeking review of the tribunal’s interim order passed on July 25, the MOEF had stated that the direction “causes prejudice to the MOEF as the (Gadgil) Report has not attended finality and is still under consideration of the ministry.”
However, the tribunal noted that this “review petition does not satisfy any of the mandatory requirements and that the reasons assigned for reviewing the order are unacceptable.”
“While taking decisions (on environmental clearances), the ministry shall adhere to the (Gadgil) Report, if the same has not been varied till date,” the tribunal stated while disposing of the review petition.