NGT to hold global conference on environmental issues

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal in association with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), MoEF and Ministry of Water Resources, will hold a global conference to provide a new dimension to the environmental jurisprudence from a world perspective.

"This is for the first time that UNEP is holding a conference in India in which around 55 delegates from 30 countries especially South Asian countries will participate," NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.

The programme to be held from March 4 to 6 will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by Chief Justice of India T S Thakur and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

"Around 1,500 people, including world leaders, judges and experts in fields related to environment like bio-diversity and waste management are likely to participate in the conference. Three members from UNEP will also participate in the conference," Justice Kumar said.

He said that the most important feature about the conference is that around 500 students from 14 educational institutes from all over the country, mostly from law colleges and environmental institutes, will participate.

"We want the young blood to be made aware about the environment and therefore along with experts, students from 14 educational institutions will participate in the event," he said.

He said representatives from bodies like pollution control boards, disaster management authorities and those related to environment have been invited for the three-day programme.