Three SC Decisions on Environment, Including on Aravallis, Raise Spectre of ‘Rich, Vested Interests’ |
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New Delhi: Three recent decisions by the Supreme Court pertaining to the environment, including its green light for the controversial new definition for the Aravallis, raise the fear that the top court as the “last bastion” for the protection of nature “is crumbling before the onslaught of rich and powerful vested interests”, a collective of former civil servants has said.
In an open letter posted on Sunday (December 28), the Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG) wrote of its “deep anguish” over three of the top court’s decisions that it said “have set aside the rules and regulations put in place to safeguard our country’s environment and ecology”.
One of these was the court’s decision to accept a new, uniform definition for the Aravallis – which would only include those hills that are 100 metres above the local relief – on November 20 that was prepared by a committee comprising eight Union government officials.
Environmentalists and activists have alleged that the new definition will open up a large part of the hill range to commercial activities such as mining.
The CCG echoed this view. The activities that the new definition........