NOIDA: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday said the measures taken by officials of Noida authority, district administration and pollution department to remove encroachments from wetlands and ponds were insufficient. The green tribunal has directed the officials to be physically present during the next hearing on October 12.
The tribunal’s bench consisting of judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr Afroz Ahmad made the observations and gave directions on a petition filed by environmentalist Abhisht Kusum Gupta.
Sunil J Mathews, counsel for the petitioner, said the tribunal asked the officials how many meetings have taken place so far and what action has been taken to remove encroachments. “The officials did not give satisfactory answers. The tribunal said the Noida Authority officials were merely doing paperwork and no concrete work on the ground. It also asked the officials of Noida Authority, district administration and pollution department to personally appear during the next hearing on October 12,” he said.
The UP Pollution Control Board had submitted a report to NGT on August 4, stating the district has 1,031 ponds, of which 202 have been encroached. Sadar tehsil has 245 ponds, of which 33 are encroached. Jewar tehsil has 306 ponds, of which 35 are encroached. This includes eight ponds on land acquired for Noida airport project. In Dadri tehsil, there are 480 ponds, of which 134 have been encroached upon.
The tribunal’s bench consisting of judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr Afroz Ahmad made the observations and gave directions on a petition filed by environmentalist Abhisht Kusum Gupta.
Sunil J Mathews, counsel for the petitioner, said the tribunal asked the officials how many meetings have taken place so far and what action has been taken to remove encroachments. “The officials did not give satisfactory answers. The tribunal said the Noida Authority officials were merely doing paperwork and no concrete work on the ground. It also asked the officials of Noida Authority, district administration and pollution department to personally appear during the next hearing on October 12,” he said.
The UP Pollution Control Board had submitted a report to NGT on August 4, stating the district has 1,031 ponds, of which 202 have been encroached. Sadar tehsil has 245 ponds, of which 33 are encroached. Jewar tehsil has 306 ponds, of which 35 are encroached. This includes eight ponds on land acquired for Noida airport project. In Dadri tehsil, there are 480 ponds, of which 134 have been encroached upon.