NGT directs action on plea alleging unauthorised groundwater extraction by builders in Noida region

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Department to examine allegations of illegal groundwater extraction by private builders, industries, and other entities in Noida and Greater Noida, and take remedial and punitive action if violations are found.

A Bench of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Dr Afroz Ahmad passed the order while disposing of an application filed by environmental conservationist Vikrant Tongad through advocate Akash Vashishtha.

The plea raised concerns regarding the alleged unauthorised extraction of groundwater at various locations in Noida and Greater Noida, including projects associated with Microsoft in Sector 145, ACE 153 in Sector 153, Migsun Builder in 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 application alleged that private builders, industries and individuals were extracting groundwater illegally, particularly in Sectors 145 and 153 of Noida and Sectors 94 and 150 and the Tech Zone areas of Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddha Nagar district.

In its order, the NGT recorded that none of the alleged violators in the application had been impleaded as parties in the proceedings.

“None of the above violators has been impleaded in the present OA; that apart, at the first instance, the applicant is required to make an appropriate complaint to the competent authority i.e. Respondent No. 7 – Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Department,” the tribunal said in its order.

It granted liberty to the applicant to file a detailed complaint along with supporting material before the Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Department.

Directing the authority to act on the complaint, the NGT said that upon receipt of the representation, the department should examine the allegations in accordance with the law and carry out ground verification.

“On receipt of the same, it 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,” the order said.

The NGT further directed that the entire exercise be completed as expeditiously as possible, preferably within three months from the date of receipt of the complaint.

IANS