Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding violation of environment norms in and around Giriraj Parvat and Parikrama Marg, Goverdhan, Mathura, 17/05/2019
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Giriraj Parikrama Sanrakshan Sansthan & Others Vs Department of Environment & Forests & Others dated 17/05/2019 regarding violation of Environment Protection Act 1986 in and around Giriraj Parvat and Parikrama Marg, Goverdhan, District Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The issues raised included disposal of solid and hazardous waste, removal of encroachments from the Reserved Forest area, noise pollution and forest land diversion.
Allegations have surfaced of illegal siphoning of funds by officers of the Giriraj Sewak Samiti and also about a scam of Rs. 10,74,00,000/- in the account of Danghati Temple and Mukharvind Temple. The bench of Justice Raghuvendra S. Rathore and expert member Satyawan Singh Garbyal in the order said that "crores of rupees that were to be used for preservation of the entire natural and human habitat of Giriraj Ji Parvat upon which these temples are located, has been stolen at the cost of human-environmental damage."
The court also emphasised on the fact that the entire Giriraj Parvat has been declared as forest by the State Government in 1998 and no individual can raise any construction on it and that the ancient temples which are on the Giriraj Parvat cannot be a property of any individual or society. Counsel for Uttar Pradesh has submitted that an amount of Rs. 5 lakhs had been given for pumping station at the STP but instead of door to door sewage connection in some parts of Goverdhan and Radha Kund suggested a clearing safety tank, which the Tribunal finds unsatisfactory and directs that every house should have sewage connection and the same be connected to the main sewage line so that the same is treated at the STP. Counsel for Uttar Pradesh has informed that sewage connection of the houses near Mansi Ganga has been completed and the process for formation of Shrine Board would be completed at the earliest. The NGT directs the District Magistrate, Mathura and Senior Superintendent of Police, Mathura to remain present before the Tribunal, on the next date of hearing (June 27, 2019).