Debris not fully removed from area along Yamuna: Centre to NGT

The Centre today informed the National Green Tribunal that debris have not been completely removed from the area along river Yamuna despite its orders.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in its status report placed before a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar has said construction of houses and bathing ghats is also being carried out on the river's flood plains.
Reclamation of the river's flood plain, for construction purposes, is also going on, the ministry has said in its report.
The tribunal directed all the authorities concerned to file their responses on the status report filed by the MoEF and listed the matter on December 18.

The tribunal on October 28 had directed the ministry as well as the local commissioners appointed by the NGT to inspect the river and submit a report on whether debris dumped there have been completely removed.
The tribunal's order came on hearing of a petition filed by Manoj Kumar Mishra seeking ban on dumping of rubble into Yamuna and ensuring cleaning up of the river.
On January 31, NGT had banned dumping of debris including construction material into Yamuna and had directed the states of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to remove the rubble immediately while making such an offence punishable with a fine of Rs five lakh.