India, Aug. 10 -- Ideological pollution is the root of all environmental degradation, and it continues to drive ecological damage through a lack of civic awareness, diminishing sensitivity toward nature, and social and political inaction, former Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay Oka has said.

Speaking at a gathering at Dayanand Law College in Latur on Saturday, the former judge said that while citizens possess a constitutional right to live in a pollution-free environment, society continues to suffer due to widespread indifference towards following the law.

Oka was the chief guest at the inauguration of a new seminar hall and spoke at the 'Nyay Samvad: Law, Environment and Citizens' programme at the college.

"Along with air, water and ...