Why is it in the News?

The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi has initiated action on the Netravati Waterfront Promenade Development Project in Mangaluru.

About the Netravati River:

• The Netravati River, also known as Netravathi Nadi, originates from the Bangrabalige valley, Yelaneeru Ghat in Kudremukh, Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, India.
• It passes through the revered pilgrimage site Dharmasthala, earning recognition as one of India's sacred rivers.
• Converging with the Kumaradhara River at Uppinangadi, it eventually flows into the Arabian Sea, south of Mangalore city, serving as the primary water source for Bantwal and Mangalore.
• The Netravati railway bridge, a prominent structure, acts as the gateway to Mangalore.
• Historically known as the Bantwal River, it was documented as unfordable during the South-West Monsoon in the 1855 Gazetteer of Southern India.
• The river's navigability by small country craft and its influence on local geography and transport, including the naming of the Netravati Express train, underscores its significance in the region's history.
• Instances of flooding, notably in 1928 and 1974, have shaped the lives of residents, prompting relocations and resilience

About the National Green Tribunal:

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established under the National Green Tribunal Act of 2010.
• While its principal seat is located in New Delhi, it also holds sessions in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai.
• The NGT is entrusted with the responsibility of adjudicating applications or appeals, ensuring their final disposition within six months of filing.

Composition:

• The tribunal comprises a Chairperson, Judicial Members, and Expert Members, each serving a non-renewable term of five years.
• The appointment of the Chairperson is made by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
• A Selection Committee, constituted by the Central Government, is responsible for appointing both Judicial and Expert Members.
• The tribunal can accommodate a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 full-time Judicial and Expert Members.

Powers & Jurisdiction:

• Established to efficiently handle cases concerning environmental protection and conservation of natural resources, including forests.
• It possesses appellate jurisdiction akin to a court.
• While not bound by the procedural formalities outlined in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, the NGT operates based on the principles of natural justice.