National Green Tribunal Forms Committee To File Action Taken Report On Environmental Degradation By Delhi’s 200 Parks, Green Areas

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a Joint Committee to file factual action taken report on application filed raising concerns over environmental degradation caused by 200 parks and green areas in Village Bijwasan and Bhartal, New Delhi.

The bench of Justice Sudhir Agarwa and Dr. Senthil Vel (Expert Member) opined that, “a substantial question relating to environment due to implementation of Scheduled enactment under NGT Act, 2010 has arisen…”

The application was filed by Vivek Manha, who is the President of RWA, Bijwasan, New Delhi, through a letter petition in December 2022, under Section 14 and 15 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (NGT Act).

The applicant claimed that there are around 200 green areas and parks in Village Bijwasan and Bhartal, New Delhi which are frequently used for social functions, such as weddings, and attract hundreds of vehicles on a daily basis.

The high volume of traffic causes traffic jams and air pollution, as the vehicles release large amounts of dust into the atmosphere, submitted the applicant.

He further argued that, “organizers of these functions are discharging sewage on open land and roads causing huge water pollution in the area”.

“All these activities are causing violation of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and also creating health hazards to the local people”,he submitted.

Considering the allegations the Tribunal passed an order stating that, “...before taking any further action in the matter, we find it appropriate to obtain a factual action taken report, for the purpose whereof, we constitute a joint Committee comprising DPCC and District Magistrate, South West Delhi who shall visit the site, collect relevant information and submit a factual report within two months…”

The matter is posted to 24 July for further consideration.

Case Title: Vivek Mahna v.Govt. of NCT of Delhi

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