NGT Orders Ghaziabad Forest Revival

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has mandated that the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation investigate the possibility of conducting a tree plantation drive in the Sai Upwan city forest during the upcoming monsoon season. This directive was issued on July 2, with an affidavit on the matter due by September 16. The tribunal is simultaneously addressing two significant cases concerning the alleged degradation of the city forest.

Disputes persist regarding whether the forest has suffered damage from solid waste disposal, illegal construction, and the destruction of an estimated 70,000 trees. The NGT's order was issued after the Ghaziabad district magistrate and UP Pollution Control Board asserted that waste removal and wastewater management measures were already in place. However, this claim was challenged by the applicant's counsel, who seeks time to submit a rebuttal.

The applicant alleges that a substantial number of trees have dried up or been destroyed due to non-forest activities within the area designated as a city forest. Concerns remain about legacy waste mixed with the soil, with no effective remediation undertaken. The tribunal previously issued notices to various authorities, including the environment ministry and state pollution control board, regarding waste disposal issues in Sai Upwan.