Order of the Supreme Court regarding restoration of water bodies in Faridnagar, Ghaziabad district, Uttar Pradesh, 17/03/2025
Order of the Supreme Court in the matter of Executive Officer, Nagar Panchayat Parishad, Farid Nagar Vs Paryavaran Mitra & Others dated 17/03/2025.
The SC directed Executive Officer, Nagar Panchayat Parishad, Faridnagar, Ghaziabad district, Uttar Pradesh to engage the services of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) for advising the Nagar Panchayat about the steps to be taken for restoration of the lakes/ponds, for its rejuvenation and for maintenance. The SC said that if the Nagar Panchayat, Farid Nagar needs funds for payment of the charges to the NEERI, then it seek assistance from the state for release of necessary funds.
The SC also stayed the direction issued by the National Green Tribunal for payment of environmental compensation imposed on Nagar Panchayat Parishad, Farid Nagar.
The application filed before the NGT by Paryavaran Mitra said that there are number of ponds/talab/johad with a total area of 11.1350 hectares, situated at kasba Faridnagar. The ponds have been illegally encroached upon by raising permanent brick and concrete masonry and structures in the form of houses, animal sheds and other structures for residential and commercial purposes and this has resulted in reducing area of ponds/talabs/johads considerably. Further, toxic waste like garbage, plastic, cardboard, thermocol, human waste, animal dung, acidic water is being dumped in the ponds disturbing flora and fauna and ecology of pond. Presence of toxic solid waste is resulting in causing pollution to air and water affecting people and animals in the area.