Waterbodies are polluted in the name of religion: Former Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka

CHENNAI: Rivers, lakes, sea and water bodies are polluted in the name of religion. No religion bats for degradation of the environment, former Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka said on Saturday.Delivering a lecture organised by the Rakesh Law Foundation here, Justice Oka said environmental degradation had a direct nexus with the social justice guaranteed to citizens by the Constitution. “Pollution affects only the poor and weaker sections of society and not the affluent ones. That is why it has direct nexus with social justice. People in rural areas are dependent on rivers and lakes for drinking water. But the pollution caused by the urbane population affects their source of water,” he said.He stressed on the urgent need for promoting social temper in the society. Pointing out the Kumbh Mela organised in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, in which lakhs of devotees take a ‘holy dip’ in the confluence of rivers Ganga and Yamuna, he said, “We don't understand the amount of pollution caused by the act to the river. If we have a scientific temper, we will not do such acts.”The retired judge was delivering a lecture titled ‘Environment - Rights or Duties Under the Constitution’ as part of the Rakesh Endowment Lecture Series organised at Valluvar Kottam in Chennai.

Pointing out the decision of the Maharashtra govt to cut more than 1,000 trees in Nasik to build accommodation for sadhus who attend a Kumbh Mela in 2027, the judge impressed upon the need to promote scientific temper in the society.He said, “if we fail to act immediately to stop degradation of the environment, we will only leave polluted air and water to the generations to come.” The lecture was moderated by N Ram, director, The Hindu Group Publishing, and was presided over by former DMK MP and senior advocate N R Elango.