NGT directs Delhi, Haryana to prepare environment plan for Najafgarh lake

controversy over declaration of Najafgarh Jheel (lake) as a water body, falling both in Delhi and Gurgaon in Haryana, led National Green Tribunal Friday to direct both governments to prepare an environment plan to prevent encroachments and construction in area. A bench, heed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel asked Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to steer proceedings for preparation of Environment Management Plan with assistance of Central Pollution Control Board.

“CPCB may coordinate as a nodal agency. Such plan may be prepared within three months. Action taken report may be filed before next date by e-mail,” bench said.

matter has been posted for next hearing on January 27, 2021. tribunal noted that according to a report received from District Magistrate, Gurgaon, is to effect that re is no entry of water body in revenue record and area is partly government land partly private.  Counsel for Haryana stated however that re is a large water body in existence and a management plan is under state's consideration.

“In view of fact that re is a large trans-boundary water body which partly falls in Delhi and partly in Haryana, it will be appropriate that an Environment Management Plan is prepared jointly by State of Haryana and NCT of Delhi,” NGT said.

order came on a plea by NGO Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) seeking execution of NGT's 2017 order to expeditiously decide issue. plea alleged that NCT of Delhi and Haryana have failed to take necessary action.

It claimed that even though three years have passed since Haryana government assured tribunal to declare lake as water body, furr steps have not been taken so as to check encroachments and constructions. NGO, in its plea through vocate Aakash Vashishtha, h sought direction to Delhi and Haryana governments to declare Najafgarh lake as a water body/wetland. According to applicant, re is serious threat to water body because of continuous encroachment and constructions in submergence zone of lake.

After claiming re was no natural lake in Najafgarh area, Haryana government h earlier taken a U-turn by telling NGT that it h been accepted as a water body.

INTACH h alleged that large-scale construction work done in floodplain of Najafgarh nallah and lake h drained area. 

(Image Credits:PTI)