“Must recognise our legal duty to safeguard natural resources”: Justice AK Goel at Prem Jain Memorial Trust event

Former Chairman of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said that we must recognise our legal duty to safeguard natural resources.
Delivering a keynote lecture at a Prem Jain Memorial Trust event in Delhi, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said, “With 351 polluted river stretches and 134 air-polluted cities, the NGT intervenes through suo motu proceedings for effective disposal of cases related to environmental conservation. As guardians of our environment, we must recognise the legal duty to safeguard these resources, preventing their conversion into private ownership.”
The event took place at the CD Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre, Delhi, as part of the annual Sustainability Festival, Harit-Prem Bharat Mahotsav.
Decarbonising India was the theme of the Mahotsav.
“The fight against pollution extends beyond the Ganga cleanup, revealing a stark reality where states like Maharashtra, Assam, and Gujarat contribute significantly to the 351 polluted river stretches, despite their substantial economic contributions,” Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said.
Two books were also launched during the event, titled “PJMT Handbook on Wellness in Educational Institutions” and “Subliminal Bridges of Eco-Poetry”–a poetry addressing climate change.
On the occasion, Architect Christopher Benninger unveiled the 9 Principles of Intelligent Urbanisation during his Memorial Lecture.
Addressing the event, legendary architect Christopher Benninger said, “36 per cent enjoy the rights of the city, while the lives of the remaining 64 per cent remain unsustainable, at the Prem Jain Memorial Address here today.”
He offered an exploration of the 9 Principles of Intelligent Urbanisation, including a delicate balance with nature, tradition, and technology.
He emphasised the importance of efficiency, human scale, conviviality, an opportunity matrix, balanced movement, and institutional integrity in creating thriving and inclusive urban environments.
Payal Jain, the daughter of Prem Jain, said that her father tirelessly championed a greener way of life.
“Dr Prem Jain, the visionary behind the green building movement in India, has not only transformed the landscape of the building industry but has also instilled a powerful vision for India–to ascend as a global beacon in the sustainable built environment,” she said.
“As the esteemed Chairman of the Indian Green Building Council ( IGBC ) since 2007, he tirelessly championed a Greener way of life, laying the foundation for India to emerge triumphantly as the world leader in ‘Green.’ Dr. Jain’s legacy as the ‘Father of Green Buildings’ resonates, inspiring a paradigm shift in the conception and design of buildings worldwide, leaving an indelible mark on the future of our planet,” she added