Latest news with #Wetlands(ConservationandManagement)Rules
News18
30-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Kerala HC orders dedicated authority, management plan to save Ashtamudi lake
Kochi, Jul 30 (PTI) The Kerala High Court has directed the state government to set up a dedicated authority and prepare a specific management plan to protect the ecologically fragile Ashtamudi Lake, warning that the wetland is under serious threat from pollution, encroachment, and unregulated activities. A division bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that highlighted the deteriorating condition of Ashtamudi Lake, a Ramsar Site of international importance. The court noted that despite the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 mandating such measures, as of today, therefore, Ashtamudi lacks both a dedicated unit and a specific management plan. The absence of these two crucial components has resulted in haphazard and disjointed efforts, leading to the resultant situation. The bench stressed that the first and foremost requirement for conserving the lake is 'that a dedicated multi-member unit has to be constituted" and that 'an integrated management plan for Ashtamudi which will be implemented by this Unit" must be prepared. The court observed that without the plan in place, steps taken for the conservation of Ashtamudi Lake could only be ad hoc and haphazard. The plan has to identify and address the specific ecological and hydrological conditions of the site, assess threats, propose conservation and restoration actions, and include timelines, budgets, and performance indicators, it said. The court also noted that pollution from sewage, biomedical waste, and solid waste, along with mangrove destruction caused by encroachment, were major threats to the lake. In 2023, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a Rs 10 crore penalty on the government for failing to protect the lake. In its final order, the bench issued several binding directions, including the constitution of the Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit within two months, 'by issuing an official notification in that regard." The first meeting of the Unit is to be held within two months of notification to finalise procedures. Other directions include the preparation of a Standard Operating Procedure to govern the Unit's functioning, including co-ordination among stakeholders. The state was directed to provide 'necessary office infrastructure, support staff, and funding" for the Unit. The court said the Unit must have its own website or dedicated web page with public access, including the management plan, its composition, and a feedback mechanism for citizens. It further stated that the Integrated Management Plan for Ashtamudi must be finalised within six months, in line with regulations, and that an interim management plan must be prepared until the final plan is ready. All government departments and agencies were directed to extend 'full co-operation" to the Unit. The court also emphasised the need for public participation, directing that the website should have a 'digital feedback mechanism (web/social media) for the general public to bring to its notice the matters of concern by enabling them to upload/share audio-visual material." The petition was accordingly disposed of, with liberty to the Secretary of the Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit to approach the court again if further directions are needed. PTI TGB TGB ROH view comments First Published: July 30, 2025, 21:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
DTC says no waterbody exists where Najafgarh bus terminal land is, seeks vacation of stay on fresh construction
New Delhi: After 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. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi 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.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
NGT seeks explanation from authorities on wetland filled with waste in north Delhi
New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a TOI report on a wetland filled up in the north Delhi area with waste from a landfill, raising speculation that the wetland rules were violated. The tribunal issued notices to Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the North district magistrate, CPCB and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on the matter, seeking an explanation. The article titled "Find it if you can: Wetland near Wazirabad vanishes under inert waste; MCD, DDA shift blame" appeared in the Times of India in the edition dated July 16. It elaborated on the disappearance of a functional wetland — the Jharoda pond — near Wazirabad in north Delhi, which once supported a thriving ecosystem of aquatic flora and fauna. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The tribunal bench, headed by NGT chairperson Prakash Shrivastava, noted that TOI in 2023 had reported that material from the Bhalswa landfill was used to fill wetlands in Wazirabad and Timarpur, both of which are historically part of the Yamuna floodplain and catchment area. The areas once had the presence of aquatic life. "At that time, Jharoda pond was only partially filled. However, during a recent site visit, the area was found to be entirely dumped over and flattened, with no signs of the wetland. The article states that, according to residents, the dumping has been taking place for at least two years, with little to no intervention from authorities. Until Aug 2023, the site still showed signs of biological activity, including the presence of grass species such as Phragmites australis, Phragmites karka, Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia and Paspalum, and bird species including the Indian moorhen, little grebe, and spot-billed duck," the tribunal order, dated July 23, said. The tribunal also said that the article had mentioned that not a single wetland had been notified although the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, had come into effect in 2020. "The above matter indicates a violation of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance with the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment," the bench said. "Issue notice to the above respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit at least one week before the next date of hearing. If any respondent directly files the reply without routing it through his advocate, then the respondent will remain virtually present to assist the tribunal," the order said.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ambazari ‘Man-Made', Exempt from Wetland Tag: Collector Tells HC
Nagpur: The district administration informed the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Wednesday that the Ambazari Lake does not qualify as a notified wetland under central govt norms, defending the decision taken by the High-Powered Committee (HPC) on April 29. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The submission comes through an affidavit filed by collector Vipin Itankar in reply to objections raised by the petitioners in a PIL filed by Ramgopal Bachuka and others through counsel Tushar Mandlekar. The petitioners highlighted the devastating impact of the September 2023 floods, which caused extensive property damage and loss of life across Nagpur. Responding to specific allegations in the additional affidavit filed by 91-year-old Bachuka, the collector clarified that Ambazari Lake — though the largest in Nagpur — is a man-made reservoir built for drinking water and aquaculture. "As per MoEFCC guidelines (2020), such artificial water bodies are exempt from wetland notification," he noted, citing the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. The District Wetland Committee, formed on March 28, 2024, reviewed 71 water bodies, including Ambazari, and submitted its recommendations to the Maharashtra Environment Department on July 4, 2025. Itankar confirmed that the ministry of environment has already received scrutiny sheets and brief documentation for the same on March 26. The petitioners claimed that Ambazari was a designated wetland under ISRO's Wetland Inventory Atlas, alleging its neglect contributed to the September 2023 flooding that killed four citizens, damaged 26,612 private properties, and caused public loss worth Rs234 crore. While the collector did not confirm total losses, it acknowledged that Rs28.25 crore in ex-gratia relief was paid to 28,256 families at Rs10,000 per household. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Additionally, Rs4 lakh was paid to each of the four bereaved families. Petitioners also alleged that flood-affected zones included 143 localities, accusing the administration of issuing tenders for Rs21 crore in dam repairs without broader public consultation. The collector clarified that those tenders did not pertain to his office directly. A division bench comprising justices Nitin Sambre and Sachin Deshmukh adjourned the hearing for two weeks. The court is currently assessing the adequacy of govt responses to both disaster relief and long-term water body protection. The PIL argues for greater ecological safeguards in the wake of extreme weather events. BOX Collector's Reply on Ambazari Flood PIL - Ambazari Lake declared man-made, hence exempt from wetland notification under MoEFCC 2020 guidelines - District Wetland Committee formed on March 28, 2024; reviewed 71 water bodies, including Ambazari - Rs28.25 crore paid as relief to 28,256 families post September 2023 floods (Rs10,000 per family) - 4 deaths reported; Rs16 lakh compensation given (Rs4 lakh each) - Public losses claimed: Rs234 crore (not verified) by petitioners - Ambazari excluded from wetland list as it's used for drinking water & aquaculture
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- The Hindu
DTC building bus terminal on encroached land, says NGT
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently ordered the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to halt the construction activity at the proposed bus terminal in Najafgarh, south-west Delhi, stating that the terminal is being built on the encroached water body. The DTC was instructed to respond within two weeks. The Principal Bench of the NGT comprising Chairperson Prakash Shrivastava, Judicial Member Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Member A. Senthil Vel, said, in an order dated July 4, that the DTC has encroached the water body by constructing a bus terminal and a multi-storey commercial building on the land. The District Magistrate (South West) informed the tribunal that 'no clearance had been given' for construction on the land. In an affidavit submitted to the NGT, the DM said, 'the said land is recorded as johar (water body) and at present a bus terminal constructed on it. The water body has been encroached upon by the DTC.' The affidavit also mentioned that there was no record of any change of land use or no-objection certificate from the Forest Department, which is in violation of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. The NGT also noted that no reply has been filed by the Managing Director of the DTC and granted two-week extension to file replies.
