About NGT

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a statutory body that was established in 2010 by the National Green Tribunal Act.
• The principal bench of the NGT is located in Delhi, with other benches sitting in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai.
• The Tribunal’s dedicated jurisdiction in environmental matters shall provide speedy environmental justice and help reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts.
• The Tribunal is mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.
• The Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.
• The NGT deals with civil cases under the seven laws related to the environment, these include

1. 1.  The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
   2. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
   3.  The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
   4. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
   5.  The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
   6.  The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 and
   7.  The Biological Diversity Act, 2002

• Two related acts – Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 have been kept out of NGT’s jurisdiction.

Why in the news?

• NGT has given direction to Kerala state forest department to send a report on steps taken for prevention of forest fires.
• In february 2020, a forest fire in kerala took the lives of 6 forest guards. In this enquiry, NGT has asked the government of Kerala to file a report .

Reference:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/national-green-tribunal