PANJIM: The Congress on Sunday strongly opposed the ‘arbitrary’ and ‘malicious’ notification issued by the Union Ministry for Environment and Forest (MOEF) making the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Delhi Principal Bench as only place to file the litigations related to the Goa State and demanded that special NGT bench be set up in the coastal State. 

Addressing media persons, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Shantaram Naik has urged State Government to approach the Union Ministry seeking justification over the notification, which is been issued against the interest of green activist. 

“The notification issued by the MOEF is arbitrary, ill-logic and malicious, considering the distance between Goa and Delhi. It is now the duty of MOEF to explain the people of Goa as why their jurisdiction has been shifted,” Naik said adding that he would take up the matter with MOEF. 

“The notification is complete violation of human rights,” former MP said accusing the State BJP government of being against the environmentalist and protection of environment. 

“Rather than changing the sitting of the bench, we demand that a special NGT bench be set up in Goa,” he demanded. 

In a notification issued by the Ministry on August 10, the jurisdiction Goa is restricted to Principal bench only, while it was earlier under Western Zone of Pune Bench. Of the total cases pending before the Western Zone, 40 percent are from Goa. The activists have expressed their serious resentment towards this central government move. 

Naik further sought to know whether State government was taken into confidence while taking the decision. “If so, whether, Cabinet approved the proposal or was it just by Chief Minister,” he questioned. 

Congress leader said that party will support Government if it intends to take up the matter with MOEF seeking clarification. 

 Speaking about the same, All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary Girish Chodankar said that the move of brining Goa under NGT Principal bench is anti-Goa and anti-Goans. “The move is basically to puncture the pro-environmental activism of Goans and make legal remedy unaffordable to activists and NGOs,” he said.