Authorities fail to act on green body's Yamuna order

Even after 10 days of the National Green Tribunal directing that all illegal structures in the flood plains of the Yamuna from Delhi to Agra be demolished, action is yet to be taken.

The NGT on May 20 had announced that illegal construction along the Taj corridor should be demolished within four weeks.

Ten days on, the buildings are still standing. Except for meetings, no concrete plan of action has been drawn up.

“The confusion springs from the lack of clear-cut definition of flood plains,” said an official of Agra Development Authority (ADA).

The ADA blames the UP irrigation department, which passed the buck to municipal authorities. “It looks like total confusion,” said eco-activist Ravi Singh.

Petitioner Akash Vashisht said, “The order is unambiguous, clear-cut and leaves no room for manoeuvring or manipulation. Buildings or farmhouses that have come up on the river’s flood plains have to be removed.”

Builders and house owners have questioned the tribunal’s move in ordering the state government to demolish and remove debris from the Taj Corridor on 80 acres of river bed, sandwiched between the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort.