NGT: Tell CS to remind admn of ‘mindless encroachments’

Bhopal: Expressing strong displeasure over non-compliance of its directives issued from time to time for removing unauthorised, illegal encroachments across Kaliasot and Kerwa reservoir, the Bhopal-based central bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT), on Friday directed the state govt to put up the matter before the chief secretary.NGT further said that the chief secretary should issue necessary directions to the authorities concerned to comply with the NGT directives in the larger interest of the conservation and protection of the environment of MP.The petitioners in the case expressed their long-standing contention that during pendency of the petition till 2022, nothing has been done to remove the encroachments in the ecologically sensitive area and this inaction, despite constant monitoring by NGT, has led to many fresh encroachments coming up in the periphery of the two reservoirs on the land reserved for botanical garden in the 2005 Master Plan of Bhopal. A miffed tribunal judge Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi said that the chief secretary be apprised of the inaction on the part of officials so that he prods them to action. NGT gave the order following arguments by petitioner, Subhash C Pandey, and Hardhwardhan Tiwari, counsel for the second petitioner Rashid Noor Khan."This tribunal has taken serious note of the fact that in spite of repeated directions given to the authorities concerned, they have not bothered to comply with the directions of the Tribunal in this matter. The counsel for the state Prashant M Harne is directed to convey the order of this tribunal to the chief secretary, state of MP, and to inform that necessary directions be issued to the authorities concerned to comply with the order of the tribunal immediately in the larger interest of the conservation and protection of environment of the State of MP." The order further said that the state govt has sought a short time to file the progress report/action taken report. The order also said, "Due to unlawful activities and encroachments, the aquatic animals like – ghariyals, crocodiles and tortoises in the reservoir are also at risk. The mindless encroachment of lands and construction activities is threatening the natural habitat of these animals and further poses hazardous risk to human life," NGT said, pointing to rise in human-animal conflict and discharge of untreated sewage due to improper STP.