Topics Covered: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
NITI Aayog study to track economic impact of green verdicts:
Context:
The NITI Aayog has commissioned a study that seeks to examine the “unintended economic consequences” of judicial decisions that have hindered and stalled big-ticket projects on environmental grounds.
- The study is to be undertaken by the Jaipur-headquartered CUTS (Consumer Unity and Trust Society) Centre for Competition, Investment and Economic Regulation, that also has an international presence.
What are the usual consequences of such decisions?
Judgments that negatively impact major infrastructure projects don’t adequately consider the economic fallout — in terms of loss of jobs, revenue.
Focus of the study:
- It intends to examine five major projects that have been “impacted” by judicial decisions of the Supreme Court or the National Green Tribunal.
- It plans to do this by interviewing people who’ve been affected by the closure of the projects, environmental campaigners, experts and assessing the business impact of closure.
The five projects are:
- Construction of an airport in Mopa, Goa.
- Cessation of iron ore mining in Goa.
- The shutting down of the Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.
- Decision by the NGT involving sand mining in the Delhi National Capital Regions.
- Decision by NGT involving construction activities in the Delhi National Capital Regions.
Need of the hour:
The judiciary needs to take into account environment, equity and economic considerations while deciding cases, and needs to institutionalise a mechanism for it.
Sources: PIB.
