NGT directs UP government to expeditiously identify wetlands
10 Jan 2015 12:34 AM GMT
A bench of Justice UD Salvi issued notice to the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Uttar Pradesh government while directing the state to maintain status-quo in two wetlands of Gautam Buddha Nagar district. The matter is posted for further hearing on February 10.
“We hope and trust that the state of Uttar Pradesh undertakes an exercise of identifying the wetlands in the state expeditiously particularly, in the light of ISRO imagery,” the bench said.
The Tribunal’s direction came on a plea filed by Anand Arya, through advocates Reena George and Kartik Prasad, seeking direction to the Centre and UP to identify all wetlands within the state as per The Wetlands (Conservation and Management ) Rules 2010.
The plea also sought direction “to take action to notify these two wetlands(in Gautam Buddha Nagar) without any further delay and grant an ad interim injunction against interference with these two wetlands till these are notified and protection granted”.
According to the plea, the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2010 were passed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, making it mandatory for the government in coordination with the states to identify and notify all Wetlands in the country within a period of two years. It said such wetlands have not been identified and notified in the country as yet.
“Large wetlands in UP are being lost as it has failed to identify these wetlands. The wetlands are of over 100 hectare each and are located in the Dankaur area of Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh,” it said.
“We hope and trust that the state of Uttar Pradesh undertakes an exercise of identifying the wetlands in the state expeditiously particularly, in the light of ISRO imagery,” the bench said.
The Tribunal’s direction came on a plea filed by Anand Arya, through advocates Reena George and Kartik Prasad, seeking direction to the Centre and UP to identify all wetlands within the state as per The Wetlands (Conservation and Management ) Rules 2010.
The plea also sought direction “to take action to notify these two wetlands(in Gautam Buddha Nagar) without any further delay and grant an ad interim injunction against interference with these two wetlands till these are notified and protection granted”.
According to the plea, the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2010 were passed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, making it mandatory for the government in coordination with the states to identify and notify all Wetlands in the country within a period of two years. It said such wetlands have not been identified and notified in the country as yet.
“Large wetlands in UP are being lost as it has failed to identify these wetlands. The wetlands are of over 100 hectare each and are located in the Dankaur area of Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh,” it said.
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