Report of the Environmental Law Studies Committee
Dr. Ramesh M.K was the first speaker. He spoke of the importance of growing Environmental Law in order to sustain various forms of life on earth. His talk focused on two issues- the interdisciplinary aspect of environmental law and environment&
justice. In terms of the former, he spoke of how there exist various disciplines that are inter-mingled with the environment including, for instance, biochemistry, ecology, chemical engineering etc. He substantiated with the example of the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill. He also spoke of hoe environmental justice is instilled with concepts of basic rights such as that of clean drinking water, or other such standards of living. Furthermore, Dr. Ramesh spoke of the concept of continuing mandamus, relief given by a court of law through a series of ongoing orders over a long period of time, and the pros and cons of its use in curbing environmental hazards and how the courts are under the garb of being super administrators when the indulge in the same. He also gave the audience an insight into the concept of polluter pays. He also touched upon concepts such as ‘Green Politics’, ‘Carrying Capacity Studies’ and ‘Environmental Impact Assessment Laws’.
The second panelist for the day was Dr. Sairam Bhat, Professor at NLSIU and Coordinator of Centre for Environmental Education and Research Advocacy, NLSIU.
Dr. Bhat began his discussion by engaging the audience about the ‘Bhopal Gas Tragedy’
Love nature!
Panel Discussion on
‘Dimensions of Environmental and Ecological
Jus6ce’
where over 50,000 people were exposed to the harmful methyl isocaynate, killing more than half of the victims. Dr. Bhat did not delve upon the legal outcomes of this incident but proceeded to discuss about the environmental impacts of this disaster. Post the full and final settlement by the Union Carbide India Limited, it was discovered that the chemicals that leaked and caused this mishap were still on the premises of the plant.
These chemicals that were abandoned continue to leak and pollute the groundwater.
The toxic ‘waste’ now had to be disposed off. The Bhopal courts ordered the disposal of this waste, which almost amounts 336 tonnes. The court conveniently approached “Not in my Backyard” approach. Dr. Bhat stated that the Madhya Pradesh government tried various means to get rid of this waste by shipping it off to various treatment and disposal plants across the country, only to be refused. Although a trial incarceration of 10 tonnes of toxic waste was carried out at the Pithampur facility, further incarceration was refused by the Panchayats in the area. Dr. Bhat concluded his discussion thus, leaving the students to mull over the efficient ways of toxic and hazardous waste disposal.
Mr. P.N. Rajeshwar is an advocate at the High Court of Karnataka who specializes in environmental litigation. Mr. Rajeshwar discussed on the death of mechanism available to enforce basic rights with regards to the environment. Although he did not give an elaborate outlay of the litigation scene in Environmental Law, his speech sufficed to stimulate the students’ line of thought on the legislative framework in the country on the said topic.
The Environmental Law Studies and Orientation Programme, School of Law organized an Orientation programme for the 3rd year (V Sem) B.A English (Honours) students at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bannerghatta Road Campus on the 24th of July, 2018 (Tuesday).
Both conveners of the committee, Niranjan E V and Mitraneshaa B S, along with two
Orientation
Programme
programme. The chief faculty coordinator, Ms. Sincy Wilson, accompanied the students.
The students were given insights on various concepts on:
Environmental Justice
Constitutional Provisions relating to Environmental Law Rights and duties with respect to Environment
Environmental Impact Assessment Theories of Environmental Law Growth of Environmental Law Recent issues related to environment Principles related to Environmental Law Climate Change and
International Environmental Justice
The Orientation programme was conducted between 10.00 AM and 12.00 PM.
Thereafter, the students along with two other teachers of the English Department were taken on a visit to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) plant, Cubbon Park. The students were explained about the entire process of sewage and water treatment in a tertiary plant. The students were also practically shown as to how the plant works in a systematic manner from collecting the Sewage and discarding the waste, to converting it into usable water. After spending around one hour in the plant, the students started back to the Bannerghatta road campus at 2.30 PM.
Objectives of the Talk: Familiarise students with Environmental Justice and Law by giving an overview of its historical background. The topics covered include Environmental Justice, Constitutional Provisions relating to Environmental Law, Rights and duties with respect to Environment, Environmental Impact Assessment, Theories of Environmental Law, Growth of Environmental Law, Recent issues and principles related to Environmental Law, Climate Change, and International Environmental Justice.
Basic ideas presented: Discussed Constitutional Provisions relating to Environmental Law, focusing on the rights and duties of citizens and theories of environmental law and international environmental justice.
Trajectory of Argument: By giving a historical background to the emergence of Environmental Justice and tracking the growth of Environmental law in general and its intersection with environmental justice, it argued for the need to question the meaning of “justice” and to adopt a biocentric view towards ecological issues and the laws pertaining to it.
Learning Outcomes: Students were oriented towards emerging areas in the field of Environmental Justice and made aware of the rights and duties with respect to environment law.
Student Response and Reception: Students could critically engage with the larger discourse of Environmental issues and legal aspects in the subsequent classroom interactions. They could also actively engage with the speakers during the course of the programme. Students also prepared a detailed summary of the programme and posted in the googleclassroom for further discussions.
INDUSTRY VISIT Programme: BA
Course: Ecological Discourses and Practices Date: 24.07.18; No. of Hours / Days: 2 Hrs
Place of Visit: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) plant, Cubbon Park Name of Organisation: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) plant, Cubbon Park
Purpose of the Visit: Social awareness and exposure to state’s management of environmental resources
Description of the Event: This field visit was a part of the course, “Ecological Discourses and Practices” to gain practical knowledge of the management of environmental resources.
A Note on the Organisation / Place of Visit: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) plant, Cubbon Park is an organization run by the state.
Objectives of the Visit: The objective of the visit was to familiarize students with the one of the various initiatives from the state government to manage environmental resources to ensure sustainable development. The visit was also meant to provide an exposure to practical aspect of the concepts learnt in the classroom.
Departments of Visit: Sewage Treatment Plant What was Observed: The entire process of sewage and water treatment in a tertiary plant was explained to the students as they observed it. The students were also practically shown as to how the plant works in a systematic manner from collecting the Sewage and discarding the waste, to converting it into usable water.
People / Experts Met and Interacted with: The Chief Engineer of the plant.
Learning Outcomes: Students learnt the process of sewage water treatment.
Student Response and Reception: Students could observe and learn the process of sewage water treatment and its conversion into reusable water. They actively engaged with the expert in the field who explained the process to them by clarifying their doubts and taking down field notes. This experience could enhance their knowledge of environmental resource management learnt in the classroom. Students also prepared a report of the same and posted in the googleclassroom.
