Home / Environment / NGT Demands Action on Hindon River Encroachments
NGT Demands Action on Hindon River Encroachments
12 Apr
Summary
- Forest department urges GNIDA to clear Hindon river floodplain.
- NGT ordered remedial measures for river pollution and encroachments.
- Encroachments obstruct river flow and cause ecological damage.
A concerted effort by multiple agencies is underway to clear illegal encroachments along the Hindon river floodplain in Gautam Budh Nagar. The forest department has formally requested the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) to take immediate on-ground action, adhering to the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) directives.
The NGT, in a July 2024 order, had previously identified significant pollution in the Hindon river. This pollution was attributed to the dumping of solid waste, the discharge of untreated sewage, and unauthorized constructions within the floodplain. Consequently, the tribunal mandated various agencies to implement corrective measures.
During a hearing on February 16, the tribunal expressed dissatisfaction with the prolonged delay in demarcating the Hindon floodplain. It has sought a comprehensive reply and a progress report from the Uttar Pradesh government, with a deadline of May 25. The forest department's April 9 letter to GNIDA emphasizes the urgency of complying with the NGT's July 2024 order and removing these illegal structures.
This action follows an earlier communication from the irrigation department's headworks division in Okhla, which confirmed the identification of encroachments along the Hindon floodplain in Gautam Budh Nagar. The irrigation department has offered its support for the removal drive, requesting advance notice to deploy its teams. Officials noted that waste dumping in areas such as Garhi Chaukhandi and Noida Sector 68, along with floodplain encroachments, severely impedes the river's natural course and harms the environment.
