Faculty Co-Ordinator: Ms. Suvarna Nilakh
Student Co-Ordinators: Aditi Ashok and Aparna Appaiah
ILS HARIYALI, the environment cell of ILS Law College in 2012-13 has conducted many sessions to discuss important issues related to environmental law and government policies affecting the environment. As a small but dedicated group we spent time on deliberating what each of us can do to save the environment.
The year kicked off with an orientation followed by a discussion to chalk out the plan for the semester. Weekly presentations were made by members of the cell on various topics such as the “Save Ganga Project”, the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant, the recently concluded Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which was held in Doha. One of our members conducted an environment quiz, which updated our knowledge with regard to current environment issues. On a regular basis we shared with each other issues addressed in environmental magazines like the ‘Down to Earth’ and ’Bhoomi’ and updates by the Ministry of Environment and Forest.
We also took up field activities in the first semester. We went on a trek with Mr. Saurabh Deshpande, an alumnus of our college, who has done a course in Ornithology. We walked around the campus and the Law college Hill identifying various species of birds, some of which were Nilima, Magpie Robin, Tickle Blue Flycatcher and White Breasted Kingfisher. Saurabh also explained to us the nature of the vegetation and nesting habits of the birds.
Hariyali organized a seminar on 5th January, 2013 on the National Green Tribunal, its prospects and overview. The event was organized in collaboration with the National Green Tribunal Bar Association. Mr. Ritwick Dutta, the Secretary of the NGT Bar Association, and Mr. Neeraj Vagholikar, an environmentalist from Kalpavriksh were panelists at the seminar. The first session was a discussion on historical background, scope & overview of the provisions of the NGT Act by Mr. Ritwick Dutta. The second session was a presentation of the summary of judgments by Aparna Appaiah, V B.S.L.,LL.B which was followed by an analysis of the same by Mr. Dutta. The NGO representatives and students then brought up many practical difficulties they have faced which Mr. Dutta answered. It was a very fruitful exercise in all.
The year ended with a discussion on alternative resources energy, environmental issues with respect to highways and a debate on carbon tax versus carbon credits.