NGT seeks Centre's reply on non-compliance of order

The National Green Tribunal has sought responses of the Centre and Haryana government on a plea alleging non-compliance of its order and directions regarding non-forest activity in the Aravalli hills region of the state.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Haryana government, its Forest Department and Pollution Control Board, as well as the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon, the Sikanderpur Marble Market Association and the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, seeking their replies by October 7.

The order came on the application of Gurgaon resident Devendra Kumar, who has alleged “failure on the part of the government and its departments to comply with the decision of the tribunal”.

Strict action

The application, filed through advocate Rahul Choudhary, contends that “action and inaction of respondents calls for strict action and imposing of huge penalty for non-compliance of orders and directions of the tribunal”.

Devendra Kumar in his plea has alleged non-compliance of the NGT’s March 14, 2013 order wherein the bench had directed that no structures or any other activity in violation of the state’s May 7, 1992, notification, is permitted in the area, except in accordance with law and that no damage is caused to the forest area of the Aravalli hill range.

The tribunal had also directed demolition of all sheds of temporary or permanent nature and that no debris be thrown in the area and the rubble already present there be removed by those who had dumped it.

The NGT had also denied permission to construct any roads in the area which is covered under the notification. Cutting any tree or bush from the area in question was also prohibited by the bench.

The application alleges that despite lapse of five months since the tribunal’s order, directions of the bench have not been implemented in “letter and spirit”.

The applicant has contended that all the activities, which are causing environmental degradation and are prohibited by the 1992 notification, “have been allowed by the state government in total disregard to the restrictions imposed”.