Above: Yamuna floodplains in New Delhi. Photo: Anil Shakya  

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar is dealing with the nagging issue of encroachment of the Yamuna floodplains and its recovery and beautification. The issue of pollution control is added to it.

The order was to do the work in three phases. The bench has found that so far only 18 per cent of the work has been done regarding beautification and pollution control, while only 10 percent work has been done vis-à-vis rehabilitation.

The setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) was also sad. Fourteen STPs had to be set up, but the counsel appearing on behalf of the NCMG submitted that out of 14 STPs, only seven had been established. The other STPs will have to be financed by the DJB according to their meeting.

On Monday (November 27) the bench ordered NMCG to send their three officers to Shikarpur and Hasanpur for demarcation. The bench also asked the counsel appearing on behalf of NMCG to give a detailed account of the finance which they have provided for the beautification of river Yamuna and also in relation with establishment of STPs.

The counsel on behalf of DJB was not present on Monday (November 27) is directed by the Tribunal to be present tomorrow positively.

—India Legal Bureau