National Green Tribunal to be set up in Bhopal, says Ramesh

Bhopal, Apr 2(ANI): Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh on Friday announced that the first National Green Tribunal would be set up in Bhopal.

Addressing a meeting at the Indian Institute of Forest Management in Bhopal, Ramesh said: "For the first time in the country, the National Green Tribunal will be set up in Bhopal."

"It will be a specialized body, where common people, non governmental agencies and state Pollution Control Boards can claim civil damages for the improper implementation of the laws related to forest and environment," he added.

Ramesh further expressed hope that the tribunal will become operational by the end of this year.

Commenting on the topic of shifting lions from the over populated Gir Sanctuary in Gujarat to a newly set up reserve forest in Madhya Pradesh, Ramesh said that the Union Government is ready to assist on all aspects.

"I have told the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) to persuade the Chief Minister of Gujarat (Narendra Modi) and realize that it is in the interest of lions and the overall environment. Both of them are from the same party and it is their party's internal matter. The Union Government is ready to help," Ramesh said.

It may be recalled that the Gujarat Government has opposed the relocation of the lions from the Sasan Gir Sanctuary in the state to another reserve in Madhya Pradesh. (ANI)