NGT seeks reply from Haryana govt over ‘encroachment’ of natural drain in Gurgaon

The green tribunal was hearing a plea regarding the blatant violation of the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday asked the Haryana government to submit its report by August 28 regarding encroachment and filling up of a natural stormwater drain — Kosh/Badshahpur nullah — that is spread across 27 kilometres.

The stretch of the nullah and its tributaries between the Gurgaon-Faridabad highway and the Ghata bundh is largely filled up. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

The green tribunal was hearing a plea regarding the blatant violation of the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

The issue pertains to encroachment and filling up of the natural drain in Gurgaon.

According to the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the natural nullahs are not supposed to be concretized as they act as ground water recharge zones for the region. Loss of natural water reservoirs leads to waterlogging and flooding during monsoon.

Gurgaon based NGO Haryali Welfare Society and two residents of Valley View Estate, Vaishali Rana Chandra and Sharmila Kaushik had filed the petition.

“The stretch of the nullah and its tributaries between the Gurgaon-Faridabad highway and the Ghata bundh is largely filled up, the course and bed of the nullah have been allowed to be encroached upon and need to be demarcated and restored, for free flow of water, and its effective recharge, and to prevent flooding on the Gurgaon Faridabad highway,” stated the petition.

The petitioners alleged the stretch of the nullah starting from Sector 58 and crossing sectors 61, 62, 65 and 66 is seen to be overlapped with licenses for construction to numerous real estate firms.

The nullah’s stretch from Sohna road till NH-8 and beyond also has largely been concreted, alleged the petitioner.

“Because of concreting the nullah, the width of the drain has been reduced, this is lending to massive reduction in the capacity of holding, recharging and carrying capacity of water,” said Vivek Kamboj, environmentalist and a petitioner.

It is stated that all streams and nullahs and other water bodies and groundwater recharge areas were to be identified as Natural Conservation Zones (NCZ), with severe restrictions on extent of construction of 0.5% of area and purpose of construction are restricted to regional recreational activities only with a view to conserve the environmentally sensitive areas.

Vaishali Rana Chandra, petitioner, said, “Licences are being issued on the nullah to builders for constructing houses and the civic bodies are delaying submitting a reply in the court regarding the status of the nullah.”