<p>"Give NGT a chance to function. Even before the tribunal has taken off, it is premature to write it off...we have to go through procedural formalities.....we have to put in place a system so that the credibility of the NGT is maintained from the very beginning," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said in the Rajya Sabha.<br /><br />He said the government would strive to expand NGT if its initial experience of having five benches in the country showed the desired results.<br /><br />"Five benches is not enough. As we gain experience we will expand NGT...may be every state will have an NGT (in future)," Ramesh said.<br /><br />Responding to a question by Moinul Hassan (CPI-M) as to whether the NGT, which replaced the National Environment Appellate Authority, remains non-functional and if there was any alternative platform, the minister said the process of selection and appointment of judicial and expert members of NGT has been initiated.<br /><br />"A sitting judge had been made selection committee chairman and the first phase of selection has been completed," he said.<br /><br />To a query about delay in formation of the NGT and pendency of forest related cases, Ramesh said the government functioned according to certain procedures.</p>
<p>"Give NGT a chance to function. Even before the tribunal has taken off, it is premature to write it off...we have to go through procedural formalities.....we have to put in place a system so that the credibility of the NGT is maintained from the very beginning," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said in the Rajya Sabha.<br /><br />He said the government would strive to expand NGT if its initial experience of having five benches in the country showed the desired results.<br /><br />"Five benches is not enough. As we gain experience we will expand NGT...may be every state will have an NGT (in future)," Ramesh said.<br /><br />Responding to a question by Moinul Hassan (CPI-M) as to whether the NGT, which replaced the National Environment Appellate Authority, remains non-functional and if there was any alternative platform, the minister said the process of selection and appointment of judicial and expert members of NGT has been initiated.<br /><br />"A sitting judge had been made selection committee chairman and the first phase of selection has been completed," he said.<br /><br />To a query about delay in formation of the NGT and pendency of forest related cases, Ramesh said the government functioned according to certain procedures.</p>