KATHMANDU, Nov 3: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued show cause notices to the government authorities asking why the Environment Protection Act, 1997 should not be amended in line with the climate change policies adopted by the government.
Acting on a writ petition filed by lawyer Padam Shrestha who has sought the court's order to amend the 1997 act in line with the National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA)-2010, Climate Change Policy-2011, and National Framework for local Adaptation Plan for Action (LAPA) 2011, a single bench of justice Deepak Raj Joshee issued the order on Thursday.
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The apex court has given the authorities -- the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Industry -- 15 days to furnish their replies.
The petitioner has also sought the apex court's order to install climate change minimization units in all districts in line with the Climate Change Policy 2011. Stating that the environment and the people have been facing serious problems due to climate change, the petitioner has argued that the government has not taken any initiative to address the problems so the amending the laws has become necessary.
