Tribunal Acts on News Report, Directs Noida Authority and Others to Respond to Alleged Environmental Lapses
In a significant move, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo-motu cognizance of a news report detailing the drowning of a software engineer in Noida due to severe waterlogging at a commercial site. The incident, which occurred on a plot initially designated for a private mall project, underscores severe environmental and administrative lapses, prompting the tribunal to call for immediate action.
The news report, published in The Times of India on January 20, 2026, highlighted the tragic death of Yuvraj Mehta, a software engineer who succumbed to drowning after his vehicle veered into a waterlogged trench in Sector 150, Noida. The area, plagued by years of unchecked accumulation of rainwater and wastewater, had turned into a hazardous pond, posing a risk to unsuspecting commuters.
Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, along with Dr. A. Senthil Vel, Expert Member of the Principal Bench of the NGT in New Delhi, initiated the proceedings based on the report. They noted the failure of the Noida Authority and other concerned departments to implement a stormwater management plan, despite it being laid out by the Irrigation Department as early as 2015. The plan, which called for a head regulator to divert water into the Hindon River, remained unexecuted, leading to severe flooding and subsequent risks.
The tribunal, drawing authority from a precedent set by the Supreme Court in "Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai v. Ankita Sinha," affirmed its power to take suo-motu cognizance of environmental violations. The NGT has directed the Noida Authority, UP Pollution Control Board, the Irrigation Department, and other relevant bodies to file detailed responses by affidavit, addressing the non-compliance with environmental norms and the delay in implementing the proposed remedial measures.
With the next hearing scheduled for April 10, 2026, the tribunal's proactive stance signals a robust approach to environmental governance. The order to file responses underscores the NGT's commitment to ensuring accountability and enforcing the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The tragic incident has brought to light the critical need for effective stormwater management and adherence to environmental norms to prevent such occurrences in the future. As the case progresses, all eyes will be on the implicated authorities to provide satisfactory explanations and take corrective actions to avert further environmental disasters.
Bottom Line:
Suo-motu cognizance by NGT based on a news report highlighting environmental violations and lapses in compliance with the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, leading to a fatal drowning incident in Noida due to waterlogging.
Statutory provision(s): Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
