Industry-friendly Gujarat government is "not quite keen" on having a green tribunal bench in Ahmedabad

Hardik Shah

By A Representative

The Gujarat government is in no mood to accept the strong suggestion put forward by a well-attended seminar of senior environmentalists, environmental lawyers, experts and activists for a separate bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Ahmedabad. Called by Gujarat’s premier environmental body, Paryavaran Mitra, the suggestion was put forward by Mahesh Pandya, its director, in the presence of a senior environmental official of the state government, Hardik Shah. “The pollution level of Gujarat industries is very high, one of the highest in India, hence there is reason enough to have an NGT bench in Ahmedabad”, Pandya insisted.

When asked to react, Shah, who also happens to be Gujarat Pollution Control Board member-secretary, told Counterview, “There is already a western zonal bench in Pune. The number of industries in Gujarat is quite less, nearly one-third, that of Maharashtra. That is the reason why one finds that the number of cases filed with the NGT from Gujarat is very small compared to that of Maharashtra. This is enough to suggest as to whether there is a need for a separate NGT office in Gujarat.” Shah did not, however, recall that the tine state of Goa has more than thrice number of cases with NGT compared to Gujarat.

Pandya, on his part, making a strong plea for a separate Gujarat bench of NGT, argued that the very fact that very few cases were being filed at NTG suggests that people, having huge environmental concerns, refuse to go to Pune to go to file cases with NGT, though it was set up about eight months ago. They think the Pune office is quite far and is inaccessible. The Paryavaran Mitra report, “Assessment of the working of NGT”, submitted at the seminar, said, there were just 11 cases from Gujarat before the Pune bench of NGT, as against Maharahstra’s 83 and Goa’s 35.

Pandya said, even as Shah was present, “Few numbers of cases does not suggest that Gujarat is a good performer as far as pollution is concerned, or the GPCB is quite an efficient organization. Things are not so simple. In case there was a bench of NGT in Ahmedabad, we are sure that many more environmental cases against industrial pollution would have been filed.”

Pandya pointed out, “There should be a full-fledged bench in Ahmedabad, as pollution is increasing in Gujarat and there are many chemical industries. One of the reasons why we require a bench in Gujarat is that some people may find it costly to go to Pune so they do not file the case at all. If it was in Gujarat, people would not hesitate to file cases.” He alleged, this is particularly required because the “GPCB is not active.”

Supporting Pandya’s plea, Gujarat high court lawyer Bhushan Oza, who is known to have fought environment-related cases, while recognizing the importance of the NGT, said, “As a matter of fact, it is a real problem for most people that the only bench for the western zone is in Pune. They cannot go to Pune for their cases and now there is a real demand for a bench in Ahmedabad. It is especially true since Gujarat has experienced considerable industrial development in the past decade.”

In Oza’s view, the problem with the GPCB is that the standards set for implementing environmental norms are quite liberal, which favour the industry. He said, the GPCB norms are such that industry, while implementing a project in Gujarat, “can reach higher pollution levels.” Other speakers participating at the seminar also felt that the state environment department is known to have worked peeking investment, and not environment, as the central focus, instead of for protecting the health of the people who suffer because of environmental pollution.

Comments

Telangana government urged to stop 'unconstitutional' relocation of Chenchu tribes

By A Representative The Nallamalla forests are witnessing a renewed surge of indigenous resistance as the Chenchu adivasis , a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), have formally launched the Chenchu Solidarity Forum (CSF) on the eve of World Earth Day to combat what they describe as unlawful and forced relocation from the Amrabad Tiger Reserve .

Kolkata dialogue flags policy and finance deficit in wetland sustainability

By A Representative Wetlands were the focus of India–Germany climate talks in Kolkata, where experts from government, business, and civil society stressed both their ecological importance and the urgent need for stronger conservation frameworks.

Cracks in Gujarat model? Surat’s exodus reveals precarity behind prosperity claims

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The return of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, particularly from Gujarat, was inevitable. Gujarat has long been showcased as the epitome of “infrastructure” and the business-friendly Modi model. Yet, when governments become business-friendly, they require the poor to serve them—while keeping them precarious, unable to stabilize, demand fair wages, or assert their rights. The agenda is clear: workers must remain grateful for whatever crumbs the Seth ji offers.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

'Fraudulent': Ex-civil servants urge President to halt Odisha tribal land dispossession

By A Representative A collective of 81 retired civil servants from the Constitutional Conduct Group has written to the President of India expressing alarm over what they describe as the wrongful dispossession of tribal lands in Odisha’s Rayagada district. The letter, dated April 19, 2026, highlights violent clashes in Kantamal village where police personnel reportedly injured over 70 tribal residents attempting to protect their community rights.

Dhandhuka violence: Gujarat minority group seeks judicial action, cites targeted arson

By A Representative The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat has written to the Director General of Police seeking judicial action in connection with recent violence in Dhandhuka town of Ahmedabad district, alleging targeted attacks on properties belonging to members of the Muslim community following a fatal altercation between two bike riders on April 18.

Maoist activity in India: Weakening structures, 'shifts' in leadership, strategy and ideology

By Harsh Thakor* Recent statements by government representatives have suggested that Maoism in India has been effectively eliminated, citing the weakening of central leadership and intensified security operations. These claims follow sustained counterinsurgency efforts across key regions, including central and eastern India. However, available information from security agencies and independent observers indicates that while the organizational structure of the CPI (Maoist) has been significantly disrupted, elements of the movement remain active. Reports acknowledge the continued presence of cadres in certain forested regions such as Bastar and parts of Dandakaranya, alongside smaller, decentralized units adapting their operational strategies.

Why link women’s reservation to delimitation? The unspoken political calculus

By Vikas Meshram* April 16, 2026, is likely to be recorded as a special day in the history of Indian democracy. In a three-day special session of Parliament, the central government is set to introduce a comprehensive package of three historic bills: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The stated purpose of all three is the same: to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitutional Amendment) passed in 2023. However, the political intent concealed behind these measures — and their impact on the federal balance — is far more profound. It is absolutely essential to understand this.

The high price of unemployment: The human cost of the drug crisis in J&K

By Raqif Makhdoomi* Jammu and Kashmir is no longer merely at risk of a drug epidemic ; it is losing the fight. The statistics are staggering, with approximately 13.5 lakh people—nearly 8% of the total population—caught in the grip of substance abuse . In the ranking of Indian Union Territories , Jammu and Kashmir now sits at a grim top. We have officially reached a point where we can no longer speak in hypotheticals about a future crisis. The vocabulary has shifted from "if" to "if not addressed immediately."

Search This Blog