DTC says no waterbody exists where Najafgarh bus terminal land is, seeks vacation of stay on fresh construction
National Green Tribunal
directed Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) not to carry out any fresh construction in southwest Delhi's Najafgarh, the latter claimed that no waterbody exists on the land on which the terminal is built.
It requested NGT to vacate the stay.
NGT is hearing a plea filed by two residents who have alleged that the land on which the Najafgarh Bus Terminal is operating is a wetland and has been encroached upon by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). They have also alleged that DTC is now constructing a new terminal on the wetland, which is a violation of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010.
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In a report dated July 3, the sub-divisional magistrate (Najafgarh) said that at present, the terminal stands on that land, and the recorded "johar", or village pond, is encroached upon by DTC.
"The subject land is recorded as 'johar' in the revenue records under the ownership of the gram sabha. The land was urbanised in 1963 and later allotted by DDA to DTC. The construction on the said land appears to be carried out without obtaining the necessary environmental clearances, such as change of land use and forest NOC, in violation of Wetlands Rules, 2017," the SDM said in his report.
The NGT, in an order dated July 4, asked \DTC not to carry out any fresh construction. However, DTC, in a separate report dated July 22, claimed that the terminal was constructed over 20 years ago and the terminal's revamp was announced in 2019. "The nearest wetland to the Najafgarh Bus Terminal is behind the terminal and is under the ownership of the SDMC (now MCD). It is prayed that the stay order dated July 2, 2025, be vacated," DTC said.
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