Giriraj Conservation Hearings Reopen at Green Tribunal

• Nathdwara Temple Board is allowed to become a party in the ongoing case
• Next hearing will be on December 22nd.

2023.12.18 (Vrindavan Today News): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has reopened hearings concerning environmental conservation measures in the Govardhan area around Giriraj Hill Under the directive of the Supreme Court, the Nathdwara Temple Board has been made a party in the hearings. The NGT is set to re-examine the case on December 22.

During the proceedings on December 7, 2023, chaired by Prakash Srivastava and including members Justice Sudhir Agrawal and Dr. A. Senthil Vel, the NGT affirmed that the Nathdwara Board is allowed to present its stance before the court. The Nathdwara Temple Board has been brought into the discussions as per the Supreme Court’s direction. NGT has set a date for further examination on December 22. Other stakeholders are expected to respond within three weeks, some stating their readiness to present their response to the NGT within ten day.

Previously, on September 12, 2023, the Supreme Court had mandated the Board’s inclusion in the hearings. Earlier, the NGT-formed joint inspection committee, which had recommended a framework for management based on the model of other shrine boards nationwide.

The committee highlighted the need for preserving sacred sites, reservoirs, historical locations, and environmental balance at religious places. NGT had directed the local administration in August 2015 to act upon the committee’s suggestions. However, in 2018, NGT remarked on the Rajasthan government’s inaction towards forming the shrine board. The Nathdwara Board’s appeal against the modification of NGT’s order for forming the shrine board was dismissed.

A plea filed in 2013 by Giriraj Parikrama Sanrakshan Sansthan’s petitioners led, Baba Anand Gopal Das and others demanding for the conservation of Giriraj hill.  The petitioner’s Counsels Sarthak Chaturvedi, Rahul Shukla, drew the court’s attention to the failure of the district administration to fulfill its obligations.