The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday pulled up the Environment Ministry for not filing its final report on recommendations of two panels set up to study environmental sensitivity and ecological significance of the Western Ghats, saying better standards were expected from it.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on the Ministry for failing to file the report despite being given four weeks time on August 30.

“We certainly expected better standards from the MoEF and compliance of directions issued by us. From beginning of April, this year, we have been going on with this process (of waiting for environment ministry’s report). Since then you (MoEF) have not done anything. You had both reports with you since then,” the bench said.

It also noted that several matters — related to Western Ghats and others — are pending before it as it was waiting for the stand of the Ministry .

The tribunal, meanwhile, directed the chief secretaries of Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, which are yet to file their views regarding the recommendations of the two panels, to submit their comments to the Ministry within two weeks.

If they fail to do so, not only would the Ministry be at liberty to “proceed in accordance with law and conclude its opinion” regarding the committees’ recommendations, but the states at a later stage cannot contend that they were not consulted, the bench made it clear.

Warning issued

While imposing the costs on the Ministry, the bench warned it that if the final report/opinion is not placed before it by the next date of hearing the Environment Secretary would be directed to appear before the tribunal and listed the matter on November 12. During the proceedings, the Ministry contended it could not finalise its opinion on the reports of the Gadgil and Kasturirangan committees, as only Maharashtra and Goa have submitted their views of the six States whose comments were invited on the issue. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Gujarat have yet to respond.

In its report submitted to the Ministry in August 2011, the Gadgil Committee, also known as the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), had designated the entire Western Ghats as an ‘ecologically sensitive’ area.

The second committee headed by Planning Commission member K. Kasturirangan, which was set up to finalise the Gadgil panel’s report, had submitted its recommendations to the Ministry in April this year.

The Ministry sought four weeks more to finalise its views after taking the opinions of the states.

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