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

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

CFA flags ‘welfare retreat’ in Union Budget 2026–27, alleges corporate bias

By Jag Jivan The advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has sharply criticised the Union Budget 2026–27 , calling it a “budget sans kartavya” that weakens public welfare while favouring private corporations, even as inequality, climate risks and social distress deepen across the country.

From water scarcity to sustainable livelihoods: The turnaround of Salaiya Maaf

By Bharat Dogra We were sitting at a central place in Salaiya Maaf village, located in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh, for a group discussion when an elderly woman said in an emotional voice, “It is so good that you people came. Land on which nothing grew can now produce good crops.”

When free trade meets unequal fields: The India–US agriculture question

By Vikas Meshram The proposed trade agreement between India and the United States has triggered intense debate across the country. This agreement is not merely an attempt to expand bilateral trade; it is directly linked to Indian agriculture, the rural economy, democratic processes, and global geopolitics. Free trade agreements (FTAs) may appear attractive on the surface, but the political economy and social consequences behind them are often unequal and controversial. Once again, a fundamental question has surfaced: who will benefit from this agreement, and who will pay its price?

Why Russian oil has emerged as the flashpoint in India–US trade talks

By N.S. Venkataraman* In recent years, India has entered into trade agreements with several countries, the latest being agreements with the European Union and the United States. While the India–EU trade agreement has been widely viewed in India as mutually beneficial and balanced, the trade agreement with the United States has generated comparatively greater debate and scrutiny.

'Big blow to crores of farmers’: Opposition mounts against US–India trade deal

By A Representative Farmers’ organisations and political groups have sharply criticised the emerging contours of the US–India trade agreement, warning that it could severely undermine Indian agriculture, depress farm incomes and open the doors to genetically modified (GM) food imports in violation of domestic regulatory safeguards.

Penpa Tsering’s leadership and record under scrutiny amidst Tibetan exile elections

By Tseten Lhundup* Within the Tibetan exile community, Penpa Tsering is often described as having risen through grassroots engagement. Born in 1967, he comes from an ordinary Tibetan family, pursued higher education at Delhi University in India, and went on to serve as Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile from 2008 to 2016. In 2021, he was elected Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), becoming the second democratically elected political leader of the administration after Lobsang Sangay.

From Puri to the State: How Odisha turned the dream of drinkable tap water into policy

By Hans Harelimana Hirwa, Mansee Bal Bhargava Drinking water directly from the tap is generally associated with developed countries where it is considered safe and potable. Only about 50 countries around the world offer drinkable tap water, with the majority located in Europe and North America, and a few in Asia and Oceania. Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, and Singapore have the highest-quality tap water, followed by Canada, New Zealand, Japan, the USA, Australia, the UK, Costa Rica, and Chile.

Territorial greed of Trump, Xi Jinping, and Putin could make 2026 toxic

By N.S. Venkataraman* The year 2025 closed with bloody conflicts across nations and groups, while the United Nations continued to appear ineffective—reduced to a debate forum with little impact on global peace and harmony.

Search This Blog