NGT regional environment conference held in Chennai
The Regional Conference on Environment 2025, organized by the National Green Southern Zone Bench in association with Southern State Pollution Control Boards and Committees, was held at Kalaivanar Arangam, Chennai, on December 6, 2025. The event took place under the leadership of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Judicial Member Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and was inaugurated by Supreme Court Judge Justice M M Sundresh.
Justice Shrivastava underlined that environmental protection flows both from constitutional provisions and a shared moral duty, while calling for stronger institutional awareness and sustainable practices. Tamil Nadu Advocate General P S Raman and state minister Thangam Thennarasu highlighted the need for robust environmental governance and showcased the state’s evidence-based approach to ecological protection.
Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava expressed concern over the steep global wildlife decline, warning that humanity itself could face risk without preventive action. Supreme Court Judge Justice Aravind Kumar stressed closing the gap between law and ground reality, advocating “cooperative ecological federalism” and suggesting a possible “Southern Environmental Compact.”
Justice M M Sundresh emphasized the importance of traditional wisdom and recounted experiences of communities affected by industrial pollution, noting that environmental damage has cascading global impacts. He also underlined the urgency of protecting coastal zones.
