Groundwater Extraction – NGT Orders Probe Into Illegal Water Use in Noida Areas
Groundwater Extraction – The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Department to examine allegations of unauthorized groundwater extraction in parts of Noida and Greater Noida. The tribunal instructed the department to verify the claims through field inspections and initiate legal action if any violations are confirmed.
Tribunal Directs Department to Examine Complaint
The order was passed by a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava along with expert member Afroz Ahmad while hearing a petition filed over the alleged misuse of groundwater resources. The petition claimed that several private builders, industrial units, and individuals had been drawing groundwater without permission in Noida’s Sectors 145 and 153 as well as Greater Noida’s Sectors 94 and 150, including areas falling within the Tech Zone.
Petition Highlights Repeated Appeals to Authorities
Environmental activist Vikrant Tongad, who moved the tribunal, stated that multiple representations had earlier been submitted to the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) and other government agencies seeking intervention against the alleged illegal extraction. According to the plea, despite repeated communications, no effective action was taken to address the issue.
Detailed Complaint to Be Submitted
While disposing of the application, the tribunal observed that the appropriate authority to examine the matter is the Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Department. It granted the petitioner permission to submit a comprehensive complaint supported by relevant documents and evidence before the department.
The NGT further directed that once the complaint is received, officials must assess it in accordance with legal provisions. The department has also been instructed to carry out on-site verification and determine whether any tube wells or bore wells are operating without authorization. If violations are established, the authorities have been asked to initiate suitable corrective as well as punitive measures while ensuring that the principles of natural justice are followed throughout the process.
Verification Process to Be Completed Promptly
The tribunal emphasized that the entire exercise should be completed without unnecessary delay. The direction reflects increasing judicial attention towards the protection of groundwater resources amid growing concerns over excessive and unauthorized extraction in rapidly expanding urban regions.
Earlier this year, in April, the NGT had also issued notices to the Delhi government and other authorities regarding allegations of large-scale illegal groundwater extraction in the Najafgarh area of the national capital. In that matter, the petition alleged administrative inaction and possible collusion by public authorities, including the Delhi Jal Board. The respondents have been asked to submit their replies before the tribunal by July 10.
Other Court Developments
In a separate case, a Delhi Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation exceeding Rs 1.06 crore to a former Municipal Corporation of Delhi employee who suffered severe crush injuries in a truck accident in 2021. The tribunal held that the injuries had permanently affected his earning capacity. The accident had taken place near Dhulsiras Chowk in Dwarka.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court rejected the bail plea of a man accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting his daughter over nearly a decade. The survivor, now 17, informed investigators that the abuse allegedly began when she was around six years old. After approaching the police earlier this year, an FIR was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The court declined to grant relief to the accused while proceedings continue.