Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and environmentalists of the state have decided to force the state government to take a suo motu action to enforce environmental laws. They have also decided to adopt measures like filing petitions in courts in case the government fails to act.

It was after a report published in DNA that the NGOs and environmentalists decided to make sure that the government departments, especially the local self governance (LSG) department, follow environment protection laws. In the report, DNA had revealed how the LSG department has been flouting the environment protection laws in implementing its projects, while private builders were found complying with the laws.

Suraj, honorary secretary of the Nature Club of Rajasthan, told DNA, "No other state in the country has ignored the environmental protection laws as the Rajasthan government has. The LSG has also sidelined the township and building by-laws. The concept of 33% green belt in townships is no longer practised and 30 ecological zones in the state were converted to commercial zones. Likewise, in the name of development, over 5000 trees which were more than hundred years old were cut. This will negatively impact the environment and the ultimate sufferers will be the people at large."

Recently, the chairman of Pollution Control Board wrote a letter to the LSG department revealing grave violation of the environment protection laws.

Babulal Jadu, state president of Peoples for Animal, said that the way the LSG department has been flouting the norms is clearly a contempt of court as it violates the directions of the Supreme Court. "We do not expect such behaviour from the custodians of law and they should behave responsibly," added Jadu.

Deepak Chauhan, a Jaipur-based advocate, said, "Development should not be done at the cost of affecting nature, but the ways in which the government has flouted the environmental laws will have serious repercussions for the residents of the state."

Harish Chandra Singh/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication