Environmental courts to start work within five months: Ramesh

PUNE: Specialized environmental courts being set up under National Green Tribunal (NGT) would become operational within next five months, Union minister of state for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh said.

Stating that the proposed NGT would be headquartered in Bhopal as an atonement ('prayashchitta') for the Bhopal gas tragedy, Ramesh said four benches of such environmental courts would be instituted to hear cases relating to pollution inflicted damage to the community.

"Any citizen can approach these courts for civil damages claim", he said while interacting with public representatives on the National Mission for a Green India here.

Jairam also informed the gathering that a National Mission for Sustainable Habitat too would be implemented shortly in 65 cities in the country to make them "climate resilient" and to increase the green cover.