NGT directs UP govt to stop sewage flowing into Dadri wetland
The National Green Tribunal on Thursday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure that no sewage should be allowed into the Greater Noida’s Dadri wetland.
Bil Akbarpur, Datawali and Dadri wetland is home to a variety of wildlife such as Blackbucks, Blue Bulls, Chinkara, Sarus (state bird of UP), Bluethroat and waterfowls such as Malard, Pintale, Shovelers, Garganey and Pochards. Two petitioners, Vikrant Tongad and Akash Vashishtha, had filed a petition in NGT in August 2013 demanding protection to the wetland. The petitioners had alleged that natural wetland was being sold to builders illegally.
In its order delivered on Tuesday and published online on Thursday, the NGT said that the state government should ensure that waste water be diverted into the sewerage network or trapped by constructing individual septic tanks by the households, the township and the nearby university, as the case may be.
“This shall be enforced in consultation with the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam. Both Hi- Tech Township and Shiv Nadar University will give an undertaking to this effect. With these directions, we dispose of the application with no order as to costs,” said the order delivered by Justice Jawad Rahim and Ranjan Chatterjee, expert member at NGT.
NGT refused to cancel the licences of realty firm Ansal Hi-Tech and Shiv Nadar University, as demanded by the petitioner.
“In the present case, we find that the wetland, as stated by the applicants, is certainly not declared as a wetland as per the rules by the ministry of environment and forest and climate change. The UP government had acquired this land in 2006-07, and allocated the same through Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation for construction of the Hi-Tech Township and Shiv Nadar University,”
NGT said.
“There is no justification to seek withdrawal of the environmental clearances granted to these entities. Under these circumstances, we direct that the area which is low lying, should be protected by state,” the green tribunal said.
“The state government of UP should also give an undertaking for preservation of the habitat of the aquatic flora and fauna. It should be strictly ensured that no encroachment takes place. Both these institutions need to be saddled with the responsibility of preserving the low lying area in perpetuity, while running their institutions, so that the avian habitat is preserved for good,” the green court said in its order
The petitioners, however, said the NGT should declare the wetland as a protected area and cancel clearances.
“We had demanded that NGT should declare the wetland as protected and cancellation of the licence to builder and the university because two have destroyed the wildlife. We will talk to our lawyer and plan our course of action,” said Tongad. the