New Delhi, Oct 9 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a response from the Delhi government and others in a matter regarding the alleged encroachment of a water body here in the northeast district.
The green body was hearing a plea claiming that a piece of land in Mustafabad village, measuring 28 bigha and 2 biswas, and earmarked as a water body or johar in revenue records had been encroached upon.
In an order dated October 6, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad noted the petitioner's submissions that though complaints had been made to different authorities, no action was taken.
It noted that the applicant also submitted photographs and an RTI reply supporting the allegation, and according to the reply from the block development officer (northeast), the aforesaid land had not been allotted for a graveyard in the "urbanised village" of Mustafabad.
The bench said, "The OA (original application) raises a substantial issue relating to compliance of environmental norms. Issue notice to the respondents."
The respondents or parties in the matter are the Delhi government, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the district magistrate (DM) concerned and the managing committee of the graveyard.
The tribunal directed that the matter be taken up for further proceedings on January 11, 2027, along with another pending matter pertaining to protection and preservation of water bodies in the national capital.
