Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | NGOs hail High Court ruling on Jai Prakash Associates-Kanwar Yogendra

NGOs hail High Court ruling on Jai Prakash Associates-Kanwar Yogendra

Share this article Share this article
published Published on May 7, 2012   modified Modified on May 7, 2012

Himachal Pradesh-based environmental organisations are elated over the recent High Court judgment against cement majors Jaiprakash Associates Limited for flouting environmental norms and illegally acquiring land for setting up their mega business ventures.

Non-governmental organisation Him Parivesh that had filed the petition in the High Court had said: “The years of struggle of the communities and their stand against the Jaypee power project and cement plant has been vindicated by the High Court's decision.”

NGO president Jagjeet Singh Dukhia said the Green Bench decision admonished the State Government and regulatory bodies for delinquency in discharging their duties and allowing the gross illegality to flourish.

“Local communities can now hope to breathe in a situation that was otherwise becoming suffocating with the advent of this industry,” he said.

Hailing the verdict as historic, Him Privesh general secretary Balkrishan Sharma and Himalaya Niti Abhiyan's Guman Singh expressed hope that better governance will prevail now.

“It is a matter of great relief for the local communities. The verdict has reassured our faith in the power of peoples' struggle and the judiciary,” said Mr. Singh.

Mines, Minerals and People chairperson R. Sreedhar, an organisation associated with the struggle, said the Court vindicated the people's stand despite all obfuscations by the State and the company.

On a cautious note he added: “The company will definitely knock the doors of the Supreme Court. The judgment needs protection and endorsement so that lessons are learnt by one and all.”

According to Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, there have been gross violations of environment laws, the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, (PESA), and land and forest regulations in many hydro-electric projects, cement and industrial projects in the hill State in connivance with officials and politicians.  The company was allegedly involved in a similar illegal occupation of forest land in violation of the PESA and Forest Rights Act, 2006, in the Karcham Wangtoo Hydropower Project. It allegedly violated laws in the Bagga cement plant also.  Forest Rights Act came into force in 2008, and the State and the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests have been giving forest clearances without recognising the forest rights of local communities, which is illegal.

Rahul Saxena, member of State-based environment action group Him Dhara, said: “This landmark order will give momentum to the people's fight against pollution and lack of enforcement of environmental laws in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial area also”

Veteran environmentalists Kulbhushan Upmanyu, R.S. Negi and State Communist Party of India (Marxist) secretary Rakesh Singha have demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry to identify the illegalities committed by all mega projects established and given permission in the State in the last 10 years.

Meanwhile, the company, which has been slapped with damages worth Rs. 100 crore, said it is studying the judgment and will decide on remedial measures.

“The judgment of High Court was pronounced and it being voluminous, we are studying the implications there of, both legal as well as factual, and depending upon the legal advice that we receive, we shall decide our future course of action in accordance with the well established constitutional provisions,” it said in a statement.

The Hindu, 7 May, 2012, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article3391885.ece


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close