Environment ministry causing 'serious obstruction' in tribunal's functioning: NGT

New Delhi: Pulling up the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for not providing information in the matter of health hazards to students due to use of asbestos sheets in educational institutions, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said that the Ministry was causing a "serious obstruction" to the green bench's functioning.

The NGT Principal Bench was hearing a petition on issue of non-occupational health hazards likely to be caused by use of asbestos sheets in educational institutional to students.

Earlier in July, the green panel had asked the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to find out whether the hazards faced by students were different from the threats asbestos work posed to industrial workers. If the health risks were dissimilar, the ministry had to conduct a scientific study and submit it, the NGT said.

In an order dated November 26, a bench of judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member Afroz Ahmad said the reply of the ministry dated September 24 did not provide a specific reply regarding the scientific study.

The bench noted that the next day, the tribunal's order directed the MoEFCC to conduct a study after constituting an expert committee of multi-disciplinary specialists and submit a report within two months.

It said that the ministry's advocate said that a 12-members committee was formed. But he failed to reply whether a study was conducted.

The tribunal noted the absence of any ministry official to apprise the tribunal about complying with its earlier order.

"In these facts and circumstances, the tribunal, due to lack of appropriate response on the part of MoEFCC is not in a position to proceed further in the matter and this a serious obstruction caused in the functioning of the tribunal by the environmental ministry itself," the tribunal said.

The tribunal asked the concerned joint secretary of the Ministry to be present personally on the next date, and to explain as to why order dated September 25 has not been complied with by it though non-compliance of tribunal's order constitutes an offence.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on December 17.