Delhi Authorities Under Scrutiny as NGT Seeks Explanation on Vanishing Wetland
Delhi, the national capital, is once again at the center of an environmental controversy as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of a report detailing the disappearance of a vital wetland in North Delhi. The tribunal has issued notices to multiple authorities, including the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the North district magistrate, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), demanding an explanation for the alleged filling of the wetland with waste from a landfill. This incident raises serious concerns about the violation of environmental norms and the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, in a city already grappling with rapid urbanization and ecological pressures.
The issue came to light following a media report that highlighted the complete disappearance of the Jharoda pond near Wazirabad, an area historically part of the Yamuna floodplain and once home to a thriving ecosystem. While earlier reports in 2023 indicated the pond was only partially filled with material from the Bhalswa landfill, a recent site visit revealed the area entirely dumped over and flattened, with no visible signs of the wetland remaining. Residents report that the dumping has been ongoing for at least two years with minimal intervention from authorities, despite evidence of biological activity, including diverse grass species and birdlife, present as recently as August 2023.
The NGT bench, headed by its chairperson, noted that the continued filling of the Jharoda pond and the lack of official notification for any wetlands in Delhi, despite the 2017 Wetlands Rules coming into effect in 2020, indicate a blatant disregard for environmental regulations. The tribunal emphasized that the matter raises substantial issues concerning compliance with environmental norms and the enforcement of statutory provisions. Wetlands serve crucial ecological functions, including water filtration, biodiversity support, and flood protection, making their destruction a significant environmental setback for any growing urban area.
The legal action taken by the NGT underscores the urgency of wetland protection in a rapidly expanding urban landscape like Delhi. The tribunal has given the implicated respondents a week to file their affidavits before the next hearing, signaling a firm stance against environmental degradation. This development highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing urban development pressures with ecological preservation, particularly for critical natural assets such as wetlands, which are vital for the environmental health and resilience of the city.
The NGT’s intervention sends a strong message to urban planning and civic agencies regarding their accountability in preserving Delhi’s natural ecosystems against unchecked waste dumping and unauthorized land conversion.
