Environmental justice and poor

Student researchers and the local community members in a coastal village of Mahuva block, Gujarat, India in summer 2017.

The International Symposium on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Development Goals will be held at Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar, India during March 15th and 16th, 2019.

A public rally against a proposed limestone mining project in Mahuva block, Gujarat, India

We are a team of interdisciplinary academic researchers from Canada and India interested in the influence of the law and Indian judiciary on interactions among development, the environment, human well being and livelihoods. Our goal is to learn from people directly affected by environmental problems or involved in environmental litigation, and to provide analysis and reports that can help communities, scholars, NGOs and policy makers achieve environmental justice for poor and marginalized sectors of society. Our work encompasses procedural, recognitional, distributive and restorative aspects of environmental justice. To date we have focused on case studies in Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

News

India is planning to use Natural Resource Accounting tools for environmental assessment

It is an excellent proposal but limited to only water, forests, land, minerals. The coastal environment is under threat due to ambitious Sagarmal program and not sure it will be considered as part of the "water" resources.

Karwar fishers bring stay order on the port exansion

The Karnataka High Court directs the State government to stop construction activities immediately and restore the beach to original condition. The Bench also directed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) not to pass a final order on an application by the State Department of Ports and Inland Water seeking Consent for Establishment (CFE) of a breakwater till the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SLEIAA) considers a communication by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.

People in Meghalaya are struggling to seek balance between livelihood and ecology

While ordering a ban on the coal mining in Meghalaya, the NGT directed to set up the Meghalaya Environment Protection and Restoration Fund. The fund has received INR 433 crore (~USD 578 million) so far from mining industries but it has not been distributed to the victims.

MOEF’s data on the compliance of the environmental conditions are inadequate

The NGT noted that the Ministry of Environment and Forest, New Delhi has provided grossly inadequate data on monitoring of conditions stipulated in the environment clearance granted to various industrial or infrastructure development projects.

A small fishing community from Gujarat, India wins the case against the World Bank in the US Supreme

In a historic decision on Feb 27, 2019, the US Supreme Court decided that the multilateral development institutions such as the World Bank could be prosecuted in the American courts for the adverse impacts of their overseas projects on local communities, environment, and economy.

Supreme Court orders forced eviction of more than one million tribal families from the forest land

The court said those families whose claims over traditional forestlands were rejected under the Forest Rights Act should be evicted.

Sterlite case: The Supreme Court puts aside the NGT order

In an interim order the Supreme Court of India questioned the NGT’s judgement that reversed the TN government’s order directing closure of the Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi. This is an interesting decision as it clarifies the power of NGT vis a vis constitutional courts such as High Courts and Supreme Court.

The NGT bans construction activities near Mangalavanam bird sanctuary in Kerala, India

The NGT has banned all construction activities in areas near Mangalavanam, a bird sanctuary popularly known as the ‘green lung of Kochi’. The NGT recognized that the area is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 as well as Environmental Protection Act, 1986.

A cement plant in coastal villages, Gujarat

A limestone mining project in Saurastra

Yettinahole river diversion project, Karnataka

Capacity building in rural communities