By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, January 2, 2017 : Protecting and conserving environment should be a constitutional mandate, according to the Vice-Chairman, Special Investigation Team on Black Money and former Judge of the Supreme Court Dr. Justice Arijit Pasayat.

Delivering the 16th Edition of Nalco Foundation Day Lecture Series on ‘Environment and Progress : Issues & Challenges’, here on Monday, Pasayat said, “Environmental protection has now become a matter of grave concern for human existence. Therefore, protecting and conserving environment should be a constitutional mandate. There is constitutional imperative on the Government bodies not only to ensure and safeguard proper environment but also an imperative duty take adequate measure to promote, protect and improve the environment.”

Citing various examples from his career as a Judge in the Supreme Court, wherein he dealt with various serious environment issues, Pasayat highlighted the importance of the role of Indian legislature and judiciary in preventing the threats of modernization and pollution on environment.

In his welcome address, the Nalco chairman and managing director Dr Tapan Kumar Chand claimed that Nalco, along with its business, has been laying emphasis on the promotion and maintenance of pollution-free environment in all its activities.