Over 20% of Ghaziabad's identified ponds/water bodies are encroached, with multiple public utility structures involved
Ghaziabad Ponds Under Illegal Occupation: Information Given to NGT
Ghaziabad: Here's the lowdown on the situation - 231 out of the 1,075 ponds and water bodies counted in Ghaziabad district are encroached, covering around 57.04212 hectares of land. Some of these encroachments involve public facilities like religious spots, roads, electricity houses, railway stations, and crematoriums1.
The Ghaziabad District Magistrate Deepak Meena recently presented an affidavit to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) detailing encroachment cases and identifying 77 instances involving public utilities1. In response to a petition filed by Himanshu Tyagi, the NGT then created a joint committee, with the Ghaziabad DM acting as the head, to monitor and enforce the removal of encroachments.
The affidavit also revealed the presence of 217, 579, 139, and 140 water bodies in four tehsils/blocks of Ghaziabad Sadar, Modinagar, Loni, and the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation, respectively. Out of these, 29, 120, 18, and 44 water bodies, respectively, are encroached1.
Environmental concerns still exist, as encroachments of ponds/water bodies persist despite various NGT and court directives to rectify the situation6. City-based environmentalist Sushil Raghav revealed his intentions to take legal action for the lack of implementation of these directives6. A final order from the tribunal on March 17, 2021, noted that action has been initiated under Section 67 of the UP Revenue Code, 2006, but only 49 out of 261 water bodies are free from encroachment in Ghaziabad district6.
The NGT ordered the UP Chief Secretary to take action, monitor meetings with the DM, and ensure compliance in removing encroachments and restoring water bodies6. In addition, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board imposed environmental compensation (₹6.5 lakh) for breaches related to riverbed activities in a separate case5. However, this fine concerned broader environmental compliance rather than direct encroachment remediation.
- National Green Tribunal
- Ghaziabad
- Encroachment
- Environmental concerns
Sources:
- The National Green Tribunal has taken note of the encroachment of ponds and water bodies in Ghaziabad, with over 20% of identified water bodies being encroached.
- In response to a petition, the NGT formed a joint committee, headed by the Ghaziabad District Magistrate, to monitor and enforce the removal of encroachments.
- The affidavit presented by the Ghaziabad District Magistrate revealed that 231 out of the 1,075 ponds and water bodies counted in Ghaziabad district are encroached.
- Environmental concerns persist in Ghaziabad, as encroachments of ponds/water bodies continue despite various NGT and court directives.
- City-based environmentalist Sushil Raghav has expressed intentions to take legal action for the lack of implementation of these directives.
- The NGT has ordered the UP Chief Secretary to take action, monitor meetings with the DM, and ensure compliance in removing encroachments and restoring water bodies in Ghaziabad.
