Unfair to demand developing nations to stop developmental activities: SC

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India ruled, on Friday, that developed countries and not merely developing ones are responsible for climate change, and that it is unfair to demand that developing countries halt their projects for that reason.

Justice D Y Chandrachud, who was in charge of presiding over a two-judge bench, said this after granting a request from the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai for permission to conduct some related works concurrently with the Mumbai Coastal Road, which is currently being built on land that was reclaimed from the sea. The court was hearing a plea from Colin Gonsalves, senior advocate, who was opposing the civic body’s request by claiming that the project will contribute to climate change while speaking on behalf of an NGO. The senior attorney informed the court, which included Justice Hima Kohli, that the road will eventually become submerged. The court questioned as to how it could halt initiatives that usher in urbanization and development, which we need as a society to reduce poverty and backwardness.

Even though the court approved the building of gardens, parking spaces, cycle tracks, etc, the civic body was asked to guarantee that it would adhere to Coastal Regulation Zone guidelines, refrain from using reclaimed land for residential or commercial development, and obtain prior approval for any further land reclamation. However, the court rejected the application to build amusement parks.