231 Encroached Ponds in Ghaziabad: NGT Issues Notice to UP Govt, Seeks Compliance Report

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up Uttar Pradesh authorities over continued encroachment of water bodies in Ghaziabad, despite a four-year-old direction for their restoration. The Tribunal has issued notice to the state government, calling for a compliance report before the next hearing.

An execution application was filed by environmental activist Sushil Raghav, who approached the Tribunal alleging that its earlier order dated March 17, 2021, had not been implemented. In that order, the NGT had tasked the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh with ensuring encroachment removal, convening regular monitoring meetings with the District Magistrate, and making progress reports publicly accessible through government websites. The directions were aimed at restoring water bodies in Ghaziabad that had been systematically misused and encroached upon.

However, counsel for the applicant, Advocate Shreepurna Dasgupta, contended that these directions remained largely on paper. She relied on an affidavit filed on April 28, 2025, by the District Magistrate, Ghaziabad, in another case before the Tribunal i.e. Himanshu Tyagi vs. State of Uttar Pradesh, which admitted that encroachments continue unabated. The affidavit presented detailed data showing that out of 1,075 ponds across Ghaziabad district, 231 remain encroached, covering nearly 57 hectares of land.

The breakup paints a concerning picture. In Sadar tehsil, 29 ponds are encroached; in Modinagar, 120; in Loni, 38; and in the Ghaziabad municipal limits, 44 ponds remain under illegal occupation. While the District Magistrate claimed to have issued directions to Tehsildars and municipal officials to take corrective steps, Adv Dasgupta presented photographs and tabulated records indicating that the encroachments have not been cleared.

Counsel representing the state, Adv. Bhanwar Pal Singh Jadon, Adv. Harsh Vardhan Singh Rajawat, Advocates Gargi Chaturvedi & Anjali Sharma, acknowledged that the issue overlaps with proceedings in OA 958/2024, where the Tribunal has already ordered removal of encroachments and summoned senior officials for personal appearance. They pointed out that similar directions were issued earlier in Sarvadaman Singh Oberoi vs. Union of India (2019), when the NGT mandated that every water body across the country be assigned a Unique Identification Number and restoration measures be initiated.

Taking note of these submissions, the bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson) and Expert Member Ishwar Singh observed that the need for conservation of water bodies is not limited to one state but is a matter of national environmental governance.

The Tribunal issued notice to all respondents, directing them to submit their replies through affidavits before the next hearing, which has been scheduled for October 7, 2025.

The Tribunal also directed the applicant to serve notices on all respondents and file an affidavit of service. Any respondent filing a reply without routing it through an advocate has been directed to remain virtually present to assist the Tribunal.

The matter is expected to be heard along with the related petition (OA 958/2024), which deals with broader issues of water body restoration in Ghaziabad.