The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has raised concerns with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) about its decision to grant No Objection Certificates (NOC) to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for constructing sewerage lines in four unauthorized colonies located in the environmentally sensitive O zone of the Yamuna floodplain.
During a recent hearing, the NGT, led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, addressed the issue of ongoing pollution concerns in the Yamuna floodplain, specifically focusing on the proposed sewerage infrastructure across 161 colonies classified within the O zone. The O zone, comprising the entire riverbed of the Yamuna in Delhi, is recognized as flood-prone and subject to strict construction bans enforced by the DDA.
Justice Shrivastava highlighted that, of the 90 unauthorized colonies in the O zone, DDA had issued NOCs for sewerage works in only four: New Aruna Nagar Colony (Majnu ka Tila), Bhagat Singh Park Extension in Siraspur village, Garhi village in Mandu, and Old Village Ushman Pur on 3rd Pushta Dhalan Road. The tribunal, which also includes Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member Afroz Ahmad, questioned whether these permissions could inadvertently encourage further settlement in these high-risk areas and if they represented a misuse of public funds given the provisional nature of the constructions.
The NGT expressed dissatisfaction with the DDA’s initial response and has requested a more detailed explanation. Additionally, the tribunal noted the absence of any formal response or representation from the DJB, prompting a directive for the DJB’s CEO to attend the next hearing virtually.
Further complicating matters, the tribunal has added Delhi’s Chief Secretary and the CEO of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board as respondents in the case, following a request for additional time by the chief secretary’s counsel to prepare a reply. The matter is scheduled to resume on December 11, with all parties expected to provide comprehensive responses to the tribunal’s inquiries.
