Action plan on climate change: NGT summons Delhi govt official

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday summoned an official of the Environment Department to explain the proposed amendments made by the Delhi government in the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC).

A bench headed by Raghuvendra S Rathore and expert member Satyawan Singh Garbyal directed the Deputy Secretary or concerned senior scientist of the Department to appear before the tribunal on October 25.

"A draft Action Plan was prepared in the month of September 2016. However, the Counsel for Delhi was unable to give an update in respect of the proposed amendments to be made in the Action Plan," said the bench.

"Therefore, in order to apprise us with the update which is proposed by the state government, we direct the Deputy Secretary or concerning senior scientist of the Environment Department of NCT Delhi to appear before the tribunal on the next date of hearing with complete information and the proposed amendments in the said Action Plan of Climate Change, the one finalised so far," it added.

The order was passed after the Environment Department informed the tribunal that it has decided to make certain amendments to the SAPCC.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had earlier told NGT that it has repeatedly asked the Delhi government to expedite and submit the SAPCC, but nothing has been done.

The Ministry told the green court that since January 2010, it has asked the Delhi government thrice to submit SAPCC but nothing has been done, and sought direction to the government to submit the plan.

The tribunal was hearing a petition by scientist Mahendra Pandey seeking direction to draft, finalise and implement the SAPCC on the lines and the spirit of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

The plea had also sought directions to Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government to place on record relevant material and documents relating to steps taken by it in order to implement Action Plan on Climate Change.

Pandey, in his plea filed through advocate Gaurav Bansal, had contended that the national Capital was facing a number of environmental issues due to ill-effects of climate change.

NAPCC is a comprehensive action plan which outlines measures on climate change-related adaptation and mitigation while simultaneously advancing development.