NGT seeks response from Centre, others on a Ghaziabad drain

The National Green Tribunal today sought response from the Centre and others on a plea alleging a rain water drain has been converted into open sewer in Ghaziabad.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the Central Pollution Control Board, Irrigation and Water Resource Department, Uttar Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, Ghaziabad Municipal Commissioner, U P Housing and Development Board and others seeking their response by April 18.
The direction was passed on a plea by Vasundhara Residents Welfare Association, Ghaziabad, which sought a direction to the respondents to disconnect the sewer drains flowing from a village adjacent to Vasundhara, Sector 16, into the rain water drain.

It also sought a direction to construct covered waste bins in various areas of Vasundhara, Ghaziabad.
The plea also sought a direction to the authorities to immediately remove the garbage dumped in the green belt and earmark a dedicated place for the dumping yard with proper construction.
The petition alleged that the drain meant for drainage of rain water only in Vasundhara, has been converted into an open sewer by Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation in collusion with Uttar Pradesh Housing Development Board by connecting it with numerous sewers from nearby Prahlad Grahi Village.
It alleged that rain water drain remains choked throughout the year and hazardous sewer waste overflows on streets and roads, releasing "highly poisonous" gases and making lives of residents miserable.