Drawing focus to the global environmental and biodiversity crisis and the urgent need for conservation, an Orientation Programme on Forest and Wildlife Conservation Laws for the Judiciary in Meghalaya was organized by the Meghalaya State Judicial Academy, WWF-India and TRAFFIC India today at the Conference Hall, Meghalaya High Court, Shillong.
Delivering the Presidential address, Chief Justice, High Court of Meghalaya, Justice Sanjib Banerjee stated that despite the existence of a number of laws for environmental protection, they lack implementation.
While the Earth has been in existence for over 4 billion years and humans for about 300,000 years, the latter has destroyed more than 3 million species satisfying their needs. Pointing out the burgeoning tourist industry in the state of Meghalaya, he reiterated the need for plans and policies for sustainable growth of the industry so that the pristine beauty of Meghalaya is not destroyed like other hill stations of the country.
Likening human activities to “a cancer inflicted on the planet”, he stated that intelligence and development has made humans arrogant, making them lose their instinct to cohabit with nature around them.
Stating that “We cannot fight nature and survive”, Justice Banerjee stressed on the need to preserve nature and added that the Judiciary has made immense contributions in delivering judgments in cases relating to environmental and wildlife conservation and underlined the need for environmental protection laws to be implemented.
Others who spoke on the occasion were ADN Rao, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India and S M Sahai, PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden, Meghalaya.
