NGT disposed of an application regarding encroachment on old ponds. A committee found temporary encroachment removed and water quality safe; application rejected but pond conservation directives issued.
Direct Gram Panchayat to prepare restoration plan, conduct regular measurements, plant trees, and ensure supervision to prevent future encroachment.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
Court No. 2
Item No.11
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI
Original Application No.207/2024
Abdesh Shukla Applicant
Versus
State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors. Respondents
Date of hearing: 01.08.2024
CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR AGARWAL JUDICIAL MEMBER HON’BLE DR. AFROZ AHMAD, EXPERT MEMBER
Applicant(s): None
Respondent(s): Ms. Sthavi Asthana, Advocate for UPPCB
ORDER
1
despite several complaints no action has been taken by concerned authorities.
2
3- ाम उरगांव के गाटा सं 0 261 क रकवा 1.254 हे 0 ( तालाब) क मौके पर पैमाइश उपरा ततालाब का रकबा सुरि त पाया गया , जब क 261 क रकवा 0.405 हे 0 म िगरजाशंकर के नामअं कत है , जो अपनी जगह कािबज है।
4- गाटा सं 0 531 ख रकवा 0.049 हे० (तालाब) क पैमाइश उपरा त तालाब का रकवा सुरि त पाया गया , जब क 537 क रकवा 0.494 हे 0 रामदास आ द के नाम अं कत है , जोअपनी जगह कािबज है।
5- गाटा सं० 560 रकवा 0.085 हे० (तालाब) क पैमाइश उपरा त तालाब का रकबा सुरि तपाया गया एवं गाटा सं० 573 रकवा 0.514 हे० (तालाब) पर पैमाइश उपरा त सुरि त पायागया।
6- गाटा स० 534 रकबा 0.470 हे 0 पर राज व भू-अिभलेख म रामदास आ द के नाम अं कतहै।
िशकायतकता ारा अपने ाथ ना प म हर घर नल योजना हेतु पानी क टंक केिनमा ण के संदभ म िशकायत क गयी है िजसके स ब ध म जांच उपरा त यह सं ािनत आ क हर घर जल योजना भारत सरकार क एक मह वाकां ी योजना है िजसका ाम पंचायत म कया वयन कया जा रहा है तथा योजना का वृहद तर पर काय हो चुका है िजसम अब कोईप रवत न कया जाना ाम वािसय के िहत म नह होगा।
उपरो ानुसार याची ारा मा० रा ीय ह रत अिधकरण के सम ऑ रिजनलए लीकेशन नं 0 207/2024 अबधेश शु ला बनाम टेट ऑफ यू०पी० ए ड अदस म पा रतआदेश के अनुपालन म सिमित ारा दनांक 11.07.2024 को थलीय िनरी ण कया गया।
उपिजलािधकारी जालौन क पैमाइश रपोट दनांक 26.06.2024 से प है क ाम उरगांवके गाटा सं या 176 ख रकबा 0.113 हे 0, गाटा सं 0 261 क रकवा 1.254 हे !, गाटा सं 0 531 खरकवा 0.049 हे० , गाटा सं० 580 रकवा 0.085 हे० तालाब का रकवा है िजसक पैमाइशउपरा त तालाब के गाटा सं या पर कोई क जा नह पाया गया तथा तालाब क गाटासं या 332 ख रकबा 0.680 हे 0 पर अ थायी क जा पाया गया िजसे त काल ाम धान क सहायता से हटवा दया गया है , िजसक पुि थलीय िनरी ण से भी होती है। तालाब क सफाई व सौ दया करण तथा आस-पास सफाई व था के िलए ाम धान को िनद िशत कयागया। यहाँ यह भी उ लेखनीय है क थलीय िनरी ण के दौरान गाटा सं या 332 ख रकवा 0.680 हे० (तालाब) एवं 531 ख रकवा 0.049 हे० (तालाब) के जल का नमूना एकि त कया गया , िजसके िव ेषणोपरा त ा आ या के अनुसार तालाब का जल जलीय जीव ज तु के उ रजीिवका हेतु उिचत है। तालाब से एकि त जल नमूने सतही जल के सभी मानक के अनु प है और इस स ब ध म के ीय दूषण िनयं ण बोड नई द ली के गाइडलाइन के अनुसार जल गुणव ा मापद ड म तालाब के जल क ेणी डी है।
त नुसार मा० रा ीय ह रत अिधकरण के सम तुत ऑ रिजनल ए लीकेशन नं० 207/2024 अबधेश शु ला बनाम टेट ऑफ यू०पी० ए ड अदस के संदभ म य िप ामउरगांव के गाटा सं या 176 ख रकबा 0.113 हे ., गाटा सं . 261 क रकवा 1.254 हे ., गाटासं० 531 ख रकवा 0.049 हे० , गाटा सं० 560 रकया 0.085 हे० तालाब क पैमाइश केउपरा त उ तालाब के गाटा सं या पर क जा नह पाये जाने तथा गाटा
3
सं या 332 खरकबा 0.680 हे० पर अ थायी क जे को ाम धान क सहायता से हटवाये जाने से ाथ ना प का िन तारण हो जाने के कारण तथा हर घर नल योजना के संदभ म िशकायतकता ारायोजना को अ यं थािपत कये जाने का कोई ठोस आधार न होने तथा योजना का वृहद तरपर काय पूण हो जाने के कारण उनके ारा तुत ऑ रिजनल ए लीकेशन नं० 207 / 2024 अबधेश शु ला बनाम टेट ऑफ यू०पी० ए ड अदस िन ेिपत कए जाने यो य है तथािप गत ाम पंचायत म तालाबो के संर ण तथा दूषण से बचाव हेतु िन वत काय वाही कया जाना उिचत होगाः-
2- िनयिमत अंतराल पर ाम पंचायत के येक तालाब क पैमाइश तथा अनुर ण।
3- तालाब के आस-पास पया वरण संर ण हेतु वृहद तर पर वृ ारोपण।
4- स बि धत ाम पंचायत के शासक य कम चा रय यथा ाम पंचायत सिचव , लेखपाल , रोजगार सेबक इ या द ारा भावी पय वे ण। “
English Translation by Tribunal :
“In the said matter, the measurement report was received from the Sub-District Magistrate Jalaun in which it was informed that 1- After measuring on the spot the land of the pond in Gata no. 176B, area 0.113 hectare (pond) of village Urgaon, the area was found to be safe, whereas in Gata no. 176A, area 0.012 hectare, is registered in the name of Khemraj etc, who is in possession of his place.
2- After measuring on the spot the land of the pond in Gata no. 332B, area 0.680 hectare (pond) of village Urgaon, temporary occupation was found on the area, which was removed on the spot with the help of the Pradhan, whereas in Gata no. 332A, area 0.202 hectare, is registered in the name of Ramdas etc. who is in possession of his place.
3- After measuring the plot no. 261A measuring 1.254 hectare (pond) on the spot in village Urgaon, the pond area was found to be safe, whereas the plot no. 261A measuring 0.405 hectare is registered in the name of Girja Shankar, who is in possession of his place.
4- After measuring Gata no. 531B area 0.049 hectare (pond), the pond area was found to be safe, while 537A area 0.494 hectare is registered in the name of Ramdas etc., who is in possession of his place.
5- After measuring Gata no. 560 area 0.085 hectare (pond), the pond area was found to be safe and Gata no. 573 area 0.514 hectare (pond) was found to be safe after measuring.
4
6- Gata no. 534 area 0.470 hectare is registered in the name of Ramdas etc. in the revenue land records.
The complainant in his application has complained regarding the construction of water tank for Har Ghar Nal Yojana in which after investigation it was found that Har Ghar Jal Yojana is an ambitious scheme of Government of India which is being implemented in the Gram Panchayat and the work of the scheme has been completed on a large scale, in which making any change now will not be in the interest of the villagers.
As per above, in compliance with the order passed by the petitioner before the Hon'ble National Green Tribunal in Original Application No.207/2024 Abhdesh Shukla vs State of U.P. and Others, a site inspection was conducted by the Committee on 11.07.2024. It is clear from the measurement report dated 26.06.2024 of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate Jalaun that Gata No. 176B area 0.113 hectare, Gata No. 261A area 1.254 hectare, Gata No. 531B area 0.049 hectare, Gata No. 580 area 0.085 hectare of village Urgaon is the area of pond, after measuring which no occupation was found on the Gata numbers of the ponds and temporary occupation was found on Gata No. 332B area 0.680 hectare of the pond, which was immediately removed with the help of the village head, which is also confirmed by the on-site inspection. The village head was directed to clean and beautify the pond and to make arrangements for cleanliness in the surrounding area. It is also worth mentioning here that during the field inspection, water samples were collected from plot number 332B, area 0.680 hectare (pond) and 531B, area 0.049 hectare (pond). After analysis of the report, it was found that the pond water is suitable for the survival of aquatic animals. The water samples collected from the pond conform to all the standards of surface water and in this regard, as per the guidelines of Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi, the pond water is in category D in the water quality parameters.
Accordingly, in the context of original application no. 207/2024 Abhdesh Shukla vs State of U.P. and others presented before the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal, although after measuring the pond of village Urgaon, Gata number 176B area 0.113 hectare, Gata number 261A area 1.254 hectare, Gata number 531B area 0.049 hectare, Gata number 560 area 0.085 hectare, the Gata numbers of the said ponds were not found occupied and the temporary occupation on Gata number 332B area 0.680 hectare was removed with the help of the village head, due to which the application was disposed of and in the context of Har Ghar Nal Yojana, there was no solid basis for the complainant to establish
5
the scheme elsewhere and the work of the scheme was completed on a large scale, hence the original application submitted by him was rejected. No. 207/2024 Abhdesh Shukla vs State of U.P. and Others is liable to be disposed of, however, it would be appropriate to take the following action for the conservation of ponds and protection from pollution in the Gram Panchayat in question:-
1- Effective action by the Gram Panchayat by preparing an action plan for the restoration of all the ponds.
2- Measurement and maintenance of each pond of the Gram Panchayat at regular intervals.
3- Large scale tree plantation for environmental protection around the ponds.
4- Effective supervision by the government employees of the concerned Gram Panchayat such as Gram Panchayat Secretary, Lekhpal, Rozgar Sevak etc.”
Sudhir Agarwal, JM
Dr. Afroz Ahmad, EM
August 01, 2024 Original Application No. 207/2024 M
6
3 issues framed by the court
Whether temporary encroachment on pond land was permanent and required reversal.
Whether the water tank construction for Har Ghar Nal Yojana warrants stopping under national guidelines.
Whether directives for pond conservation are actionable in this context.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
NoneReferred
2 provisions across 2 enactments
Abdesh Shukla
State of Uttar Pradesh
Sudhir Agarwal
Afroz Ahmad
As recorded by the court registry
An original application before a tribunal, most commonly a service dispute before the Central or a State Administrative Tribunal.
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
