Complete district environment plans by Oct. 31: NGT

Must give timelines for accomplishment of tasks backed up with budgetary support: Tribunal

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed all States and Union Territories to complete the district environment plans (DEP) by October 31, while observing that there was a dire need for compilation of information on vital environmental issues and planning to address gaps in compliance. A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said: “We hope that the Chief Secretaries of all the States and Union Territories will provide due attention to the subject in the larger public interest of health, safety of the citizens and rule of law to effectuate basic fundamental rights of citizens.” The NGT Bench specified that the DEP may contain data on each environmental issue covering each city, town and village and must reveal the extent of gap in compliance of relevant norms.