Approach authorities first before writing to us: NGT

To reduce the burden of petitions, the National Green Tribunal has asked the applicants to approach the authorities concerned with their grievances and give them at least 15 days to explain their stand, before approaching it.

The bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said authorities must give their response either to the individual concerned or put the same on their website at the earliest to put an end to the dispute.

"This procedure may provide quicker remedy to the individuals and also enable the authorities to indicate their stand. This procedure may be normally followed unless an exception is made out at least from August 1, 2018.

If a person approaches the tribunal, then the responses received from concerned authorities should be mentioned in the petition filed before it.

The NGT's direction came while hearing a plea filed by Chhattisgarh resident Shivpal Bhagat and others alleging that authorities in the state have failed to take action against pollution caused by thermal power plants, coal washeries and other industries in Tamnar and Gharghoda blocks of Raigarh district.

The NGT was established on October 18, 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act for effective and expeditious disposal of cases related to environmental protection.