Greater Noida Sewage Discharge: NGT Grants Time for Applicant’s Response to GNIDA Report

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Principal Bench, New Delhi, on September 18, 2025, examined the continuing problem of sewage discharge across villages in Greater Noida.

The matter was heard in Pradeep Kumar & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors. (Original Application No. 348/2021, I.A. No. 563/2025).

The applicants alleged that untreated sewage was being discharged onto open land, roads, internal lanes, and stormwater drains in 93 villages, causing serious environmental and health hazards.

The Bench, consisting of Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson) and Dr. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member), allowed an application filed by the petitioners to amend the original pleadings to include the names of all 93 affected villages. This ensures that the Tribunal has on record a comprehensive list of areas where the issue persists.

The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) filed a detailed status report dated January 31, 2025, outlining the extent of coverage under its sewage network and the progress made since July 2024. According to the report, while 124 villages were originally notified for Greater Noida, only 115 effectively fall within GNIDA’s jurisdiction for the purpose of sewer connectivity.

Two villages were found uninhabited, and portions of others lie outside Greater Noida's limits, in Noida or Ghaziabad.

GNIDA informed the Tribunal that as of January 2025, 46 villages had been connected to sewage treatment plants (STPs). Among these, 25 villages had achieved 100 percent household sewer connections. These villages include Aichher, Jaitpur-Vaishpur, Kyampur, Tugalpur, Bironda, Chuhadpur Khadar, Jalpur, Malakpur, Mubarakpur, Nawada, Sakipur, and others. In total, 11,383 households had been connected to the sewer system by the start of 2025.

The report further explained that GNIDA has provided 55 de-sludging points and deployed 35 de-sludging vehicles for interim sewage management.

These facilities currently serve 69 villages that are yet to be linked to STPs. According to GNIDA, the arrangements comply with the Manual of Faecal Sludge Management norms, which require sewage handling facilities within 10 kilometers of a settlement.

A phased plan for full connectivity was also placed before the Tribunal. By August 2025, 16 additional villages are expected to be connected through existing STPs, bringing the total to 62 villages. By the end of 2026, another 22 villages will be connected, raising the total to 84.

The final set of 31 villages, for which a master plan is yet to be prepared, will be provided decentralized STPs by December 2027. Once implemented, all 115 villages falling under GNIDA will have sewer connectivity.

Despite the progress, GNIDA highlighted multiple challenges in implementing the sewerage scheme. Villagers have shown reluctance in taking sewer connections despite them being free of cost.

The reasons cited include fear of future sewer charges, the inconvenience of breaking household structures to allow internal connections, and the prevalent practice of dumping cattle and animal waste directly into drains. GNIDA submitted GPS tagged photographs from Sadullapur village as an example of this practice.

The authority also pointed to physical and infrastructural constraints. Narrow village lanes complicate the laying of sewer lines from homes to manholes, causing frequent halts in work to avoid obstructing access and movement.

In addition, the presence of underground utilities such as water pipelines, gas connections, and internet cables, which are under different agencies, further slows the process due to the need for coordination.

To address these obstacles, GNIDA reported that it has intensified awareness campaigns through information, education, and communication efforts. It has adopted a three-tier strategy involving direct supervision, engagement of call centres, and the deployment of 95 supervisors specifically to oversee sewerage works in villages. Additionally, the U.P. Jal Nigam has been engaged to expedite connections.

In its report, GNIDA reiterated its commitment to completing the network within the given timeline, with 38 more villages to be linked by 2026 and the remaining 31 to be covered through decentralized solutions by 2027. In the meantime, de-sludging services are being used to manage sewage from villages not yet connected.

The Tribunal took note of the submissions but granted the applicant four weeks to examine the report and file a contradictory affidavit if required.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on December 15, 2025.

Case Title: Pradeep Kumar & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors.

Bench: Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson), Dr. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member)

Date of Order: September 18, 2025