New Delhi, May 18 (Agency) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday said it has issued an advisory to the Centre, states and Union Territories and High Courts to prevent and mitigate the impact of environmental pollution and degradation on human rights. The rights body’s Secretary General Devendra Kumar Singh asked for implementation of its recommendations in the advisory and sought an action taken report within three months, a statement said. The NHRC finalised the advisory in consultation with the domain experts by examining the effects of air and water pollution and ecological degradation vis-a-vis basic human rights.
The Commission observed that in spite of having one of the world’s best statutory and policy framework for environment protection, India is experiencing a serious problem of air and water pollution and ecological degradation. The NHRC said the Central and state governments should make efforts to ensure effective and expeditious punishment of polluters and violators of environmental laws. These efforts should including strengthening of Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) and other regulatory authorities. Creation of separate investigation and prosecution wings in PCBs and regular training of the staff besides each local body should establish an environmental cell to plan, supervise and monitor various activities to prevent, minimize and mitigate environmental pollution/degradation and for waste management, the statement said. Among others, the High Courts should establish special environmental courts and ensure speedy trial of the cases involving violation of environmental laws.
The NHRC also said the State Judicial Academies, State Legal Services Authorities and District Legal Services Authorities in collaboration with the Pollution Control Boards should hold workshops, seminars and training programmes on environmental laws and harmful impacts of pollution and environmental degradation for all stakeholders.