LI NETWORK
National Green Tribunal (NGT) bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed to Ministry of Environment to ensure an effective monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance with requisite safeguards including the plantations on the roadsides and keeping such roadsides free from encroachments upto specified distance.
NGT bench said, “green cover on both sides of highways is absolutely essential to mitigate adverse impact of vehicular pollution on the highways.”
NGT added that the stand of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) that the roads are constructed by Concessioners and it is only their responsibility to comply with the mandate of law is patently untenable and shows indifference and breach of public trust and statutory duties.
NGT bench clarified that the, “Criminal as well as Civil liability of NHAI and its highest officers under the Environmental Law to be prosecuted and to be required to pay compensation continues.”
“We are stating so with a hope that the authorities realise their responsibility in the matter and coercive measures are avoided against erring officers. We expect the highest in the organisations to look into these aspects to ensure change of attitude and counselling,”
NGT said NHAI as well as the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) have to be the role model to ensure compliance of environmental norms and same is expected from the State Public Works Department (PWD) and other concerned Authorities, it recommended.