New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has directed Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Department to investigate complaints of alleged illegal groundwater extraction in Noida and Greater Noida and take appropriate remedial and punitive action wherever violations are found.
The order came from a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava.
The direction came in response to a petition filed by environmental conservationist Vikrant Tongad. The application raised concerns regarding the alleged unauthorized extraction of groundwater at various locations in Noida and Greater Noida, including projects associated with Microsoft (Sector 145, Noida), ACE 153 (Sector 153, Noida), Migsun Builder (Techzone-II, Greater Noida), as well as other construction sites in Sectors 94, 150, and parts of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) region. The applicant was represented by advocate Akash Vashishtha.
The NGT granted liberty to the applicant to submit a detailed complaint along with supporting evidence before the Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Department.
The Tribunal directed the department to examine the complaint, conduct ground verification, and, if any tube well or bore well is found to be operating illegally, take action in accordance with law, including remedial and punitive measures. The NGT has further directed that the entire exercise be completed, preferably within three months from the receipt of the complaint.
“We dispose of the OA (original application) permitting the applicant to file a detail complaint along with supporting material to the competent authority of the Respondent No. 7 – Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Department who on receipt of the same will duly consider the complaint of the applicant in accordance with law, will get the ground verification done and if any tube wells/ bore wells are found to be illegally operating, will take appropriate remedial and punitive action in accordance with law by duly following the
principles of natural justice,” NGT said.