Yamuna debris: NGT dubs Delhi,UP depts affidavits as incorrect

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today dubbed as "entirely incorrect" the affidavits filed by authorities in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, including DMRC, on the issue of rubble being dumped in the Yamuna.
"Affidavits on behalf of the public authorities including DDA, PWD, CPWD, DMRC, state of Uttar Pradesh and different corporations have been filed and we have no hesitation in noticing that these affidavits are entirely incorrect as well as they do not comply with the directions contained in our orders," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The bench, however, granted the authorities six weeks time to file fresh affidavits on how much debris have been generated by the respective authorities in the last 10 years, where the rubble is being dumped as per contract, list of the contractors of the authorities who have worked on different projects and the amount of the project contract that they were awarded.

The authorities have also been directed to tell the NGT from where the debris of such huge quantity appeared on the banks of Yamuna.
The NGT has also sought their response on what steps have been taken to remove the debris as of today and the extent of removal before the next date of hearing, on July 17.
The bench also referred to a meeting held by the committee set up by the tribunal and headed by the Secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), in which the development and beautification of the river banks of entire Yamuna from one end to other in NCT of Delhi was considered.

As per the committee's report submitted before the NGT, of the large amount of land, nearly 9,700 hectares, of river Yamuna's banks only 1452 ha. Is currently available with DDA for development and the balance area is under agriculture and other leases, encroachments, etc. By different persons, the tribunal noted.