The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the central government to initiate proceedings against the Uttar Pradesh (UP) housing board commissioner for non-compliance with its orders. This move follows the commissioner’s failure to appear before the tribunal during a critical hearing concerning encroachments on green belts in Vasundhara.
The directive came from a two-judge bench, comprising Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member Afroz Ahmad. In their ruling this August, the bench remarked on the importance of adhering to the tribunal’s directives. They stressed that, despite the high-ranking nature of the housing commissioner’s role, the failure to comply with the NGT’s orders is a serious matter under Section 26 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. This section stipulates severe repercussions, including a potential prison term of up to three years or a fine of up to Rs 10 crore for non-compliance. The NGT has now demanded a compliance report within the next two months, indicating the urgency of the situation. The issue originated from a petition filed by Amit Kishore, a resident of Vasundhara, in 2022. Kishore’s petition, bolstered by an RTI query, highlighted that the township’s 5,50,545 square metres of green belt area, which includes 210 parks, was under threat due to encroachments. He alleged that kiosks and vending zones had overtaken several green belts, with 62 kiosks operating unlawfully in various sectors.
In response to these encroachments, the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) had taken steps to remove the kiosks. However, the process was hampered by a lack of coordination between the GMC and housing board officials. Consequently, in April, the NGT had directed the district magistrate, municipal commissioner, and housing board commissioner to personally attend a hearing. Despite this, the housing commissioner, who assumed office in March this year, did not comply and has not yet commented on the matter. The NGT’s latest action underscores the tribunal’s commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and holding officials accountable for their obligations towards maintaining green spaces.
