The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday (July 24) gave the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) three days to file its status report on Phase 1 of the encroachment and illegal construction on the Yamuna floodplains.

On the last date, the counsel for DDA had submitted that the demarcation of the floodplains on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh stretch has been completed and that he will file the report soon.

On Monday, the counsel submitted the project report. And said the report is already presented before the principal committee. Principal committee will crosscheck the report. The report for the NCT of Delhi says that 64 percent of the project has been completed. He said the government is progressing in implementing the order dated May 9. The full report shall be submitted within 2 weeks.

The NGT principal bench, headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar, said the project shall be implemented within an implemented structure and it will not tolerate any carelessness. It also directed that the status report related to Phase 1 shall be filed within three days. No extension will be granted.

The tribunal will then consider implementation of Phase 2. The secretary of Haryana has been directed to appoint a personal advocate. Stakeholders of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, NCT of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh should make an outline for preventing pollution and waste control in the river Yamuna. This meeting will be held on August 2 at 3pm.

The next date of hearing is August 9.

Purana Qila

The NGT bench also asked the reason for draining the lake of Purana Qila. The Government of NCT of Delhi will file the report related to this.

—India Legal Bureau