Panel rejects govt claim, asks for debris records

The National Green Tribunal on Thursday rejected affidavits filed by various government agencies on debris dumped in the Yamuna riverbed as incorrect and held them guilty of not complying with its orders.

The National Green Tribunal on Thursday rejected affidavits filed by various government agencies on debris dumped in the Yamuna riverbed as incorrect and held them guilty of not complying with its orders.

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The tribunal told the Delhi Development Authority, the Central Public Works Department, Public Works Department, municipal corporations, besides the governments of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to file fresh affidavits clarifying the amount of debris generated in their jurisdiction in the last 10 years.

Hearing a case filed last year by Manoj Misra of NGO Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, the tribunal wanted to know where the debris were originally supposed to be thrown and where it was actually dumped, details of contracts awarded for dumping, whether any certification was done and what the source of debris were.

The affidavits, which will also state the steps taken for removal of debris, have to be filed in six weeks.

These agencies have to submit their plans for removal of encroachment along the riverbed before a beautification project could be taken up.

The matter would be heard next on July 17.

The CPWD has in its affidavit admitted that since dumping of debris was done at night, it could not track the movement of trucks.

It promised swift removal of debris and said no fresh dumping would be done on the riverbed.

The DDA could not furnish the quantum of debris in its jurisdiction. It however submitted that 10,000 cubic meters of debris from both banks has been removed.

The DDA has also listed a few sites where debris would be shifted.