NGT directs authorities to restore five water bodies

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday issued directions to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and other authorities in the national capital for the removal of encroachments and the restoration of five water bodies in Mundka village area.

“DDA was required to carry out of the work of demarcation and identification of encroachments but it appears that due to inefficiency/incompetence/lack of commitment on the part of its officers and also unwillingness of the concerned revenue authorities for extraneous reasons the work of demarcation of the ponds in question and identification of the encroachment of the same could not be carried out during long period of time,” the NGT said in an order.

The NGT directed the DDA and District Magistrate (West) to carry out demarcation of the ponds and identification of the encroachments within 15 days.

“File specific demarcation reports mentioning the boundaries and measurements of the ponds in question with specific measurements of the areas encroached upon, names, parentage and address of the encroachers with details of the areas encroached upon and nature of encroachment made by them and measures taken/required to be taken for removal of encroachments with specific timelines,” the order said.

Delhi State Wetland Authority of Delhi has been directed to file within six weeks a comprehensive report regarding demarcation of water bodies in question and identification of the encroachments.