Disposed

Ram Keval vs

NGT26 Jul 2024Original Application No. 697/2022

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The National Green Tribunal disposed of an original application concerning illegal encroachments and garbage dumping in ponds at Village Gajara, District Kushinagar. The Tribunal accepted action taken reports confirming the removal of encroachments and cleaning of ponds, directing authorities to ensure ongoing monitoring.

What did the court decide?

Application disposed of. Directions issued to authorities to ensure monitoring of ponds in District Kushinagar to prevent encroachments and pollution.

Ram Keval vs — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2024)

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(Court No. 2)

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Item No 2

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BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI

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(Through Physical Hearing with Hybrid VC Option)

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Original Application No. 697/2022

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IN THE MATTER OF:

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1. Mr. Ram Keval, S/o Nandlal, Village Gajara, Tehsil Kaptanganj, District Kushi Nagar, Uttar Pradesh:-274301. …Applicant

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Versus

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1. State of Uttar Pradesh, Through Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, 101, 'B' Block, Lok Bhawan, U.P. Secretariat, Lucknow: – 226001. Email Address: [email protected].

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2. District Magistrate, Kushi Nagar,

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Collectorate Campus, Ravindranagar Dhoos, Padrauna District Kushinagar U.P.-274301. Email Address: [email protected]/ [email protected].

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3. CDO (Chief Development Officer), Gajara, Tehsil Kaptanganj, District-Kushi Nagar-274301.

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4. Sarpanch, Gram Panchayat, Gajara, Tehsil Kaptanganj, District-Kushi Nagar-274301. …Respondents Counsel for Applicant:

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None for the applicant.

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Counsel for Respondents:

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None for respondents no. 1 to 3.

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Mr. Anilendra Pandey and Mr. C.P.Singh, Advocates for respondent no. 4.

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O.A No. 697/2022

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Ram Keval Vs. State of U.P. & Ors. 2

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Mr. Pradeep Misra, Advocate for UPPCB.

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PRESENT:

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HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR TYAGI, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON’BLE DR. AFROZ AHMAD, EXPERT MEMBER

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Judgment Reserved on:- 06.05.2024

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Judgment pronounced on :- 26.07.2024

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Application is registered based on a Letter Petition received by Post.

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Judgment

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PRONOUNCED BY: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR TYAGI, JM

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Mr. Ram Keval resident of Village Gajara, Tehsil Kaptanganj, District Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh has sent the present letter petition by post, which has been treated and registered as original application.

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The applicant has complained about illegal encroachments on ponds in Village Gajara, Tehsil Kaptanganj, District Kushinagar by construction of residential house and dumping of garbage and other waste in the ponds polluting and damaging the surrounding environment.

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The relevant part of the letter petition enumerating grievances of the applicant reads as under:

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“िवषय: अमृत सरोवर योजना क तहत ाम-गजरा िवकास ख व तहसील- े क ानगज कुशीनगर म ं अनिधकृत क ाधीन पोखरी का क ा हटाकर सु रीकरण व जलीय जीव सर ण िकय ं जान े क े स े ब ं द म ं ः - े

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ीमान जी, सिवनय िनवदन ह े िक ाथ रामक ै वल कहार पु न लाल ाम-गजरा, े तहसील व िवकास ख क ानगज, ं जनपद- कुशीनगर का िनवासी । ाथ क ँ े मौजा गजरा म पोखरी आराजी न र-325 रकबा 0.08। ह े ०, 342 रकबा 0.179 ह े ० ै व 382 रकबा 0.174 ह० 455 रकबा 0.316 ह ै 0,456 रकबा 0.117 ह े े यर 53 े रकबा 0.101 ह े यर 578 रकबा 0॰380 ह े ० की 7 बड़ी पोख रयो क े अलावा 5 े अ छोटी-छोटी पोख रयो ह ं इ ै स े 325 पर हम ाथ न े ही क ा करक े िनवास े गृह बनाया आ ह। आराजी न र-325 म ै पूर े टोल े वालो क े घरका अप र पदाथ े कचरा व जल डालकर भरा जा रहा ह िजसक ै सड़न े स े आस-पास का वातावरण व े

¶33

O.A No. 697/2022

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Ram Keval Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.

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जल दूिषत होकर आस पास क लोगो क े िलय े जान ल े वा हो गया ह े । 325 म ै जलीय जीव जस ै कछुओ की अ ी खासी स े ा ह ं । सभी पोख रयो क ै सु रीकरण क े े बावत एस० डी०एम०, तहसीलदार, लखपाल स े बात करन े पर अधीन थ े अिधकारीयो न िबना उपर स े आद े श क े कुछ भी करन े स े मना कर िदया। इसी तरह े स गा े व की सभी पोख रयो पर हम ाथ क ँ समान ही आस पास क े अ लोगो ारा े भी आपस आपकी पोखरी पर अनािधकृत क ा करक े पोखरी क े साथ-साथ उसम े पलन वाल े जलीय जीवो क े अ को समा िकया जा रहा ह े । सु ीम कोट ै क े आदश एव े एन०जी०टी० क ं गाइड लाइन सरकार की मह ाका े ी योजना अमृत ं सरोवर योजन आिद क तहत गा े व क ँ सभी पोखरो पर स े अव े धक ा हटाकर ै उसका सु रीकरण करत य े जलीय जीव स े र ण ह ं तु सुरि त िकया जाना सु ीम े कोट क आद े श एन०जी०टी० की गाइड लाइन व शासनकी म े शा क ं अनु प होगी। े ाथ हतु ीमान जी स े िवन याचना करता ह े । ै

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अतः ीमान जी स िवन ाथ े ना ह िक अमृत सरोवर योजना क ै तहत ाम गजरा े िवकास ख व तहसील- क ानगज जनपद-कुशीनगर क ं सभी पोख रयो पर स े े अवध क ा हटाकर सु ीम कोट ै क आद े श एन०जी०टी क े गाइडलाइन व सरकार े की मह ाका ी) योजना क अनुसार सु रीकरण कर जिलव िजव स े र न ह ं तु े सुरि त करन हतु स े िधत अिदकारी को आद ं िशत करन े की कृपा कर े ” े

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Vide order dated 01.11.2022 this Tribunal constituted a Joint Committee with direction to verify the factual position, take appropriate remedial action and submit factual action taken report. The relevant part of the order is reproduced below:-

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“3. Prima facie, the averments made in the application raise questions relating to environment arising out of the implementation of the enactments specified in Schedule I to the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. In view of the averments made in the application, we consider it appropriate that a Joint Committee be constituted to verify the factual position and take appropriate remedial action. Accordingly, we constitute a Joint Committee comprising of State PCB, Chief Development Officer and District Magistrate, Kushi Nagar and direct the same to meet within two weeks, undertake visits to the ponds in question, verify the factual position regarding encroachments on the same and take appropriate remedial action by following due course of law and giving opportunity of being heard to the concerned persons found to have encroached upon the ponds. The State PCB will be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance.

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4. Factual and Action taken Report may be submitted report within two months by e-mail at [email protected] preferably in the form of searchable PDF/OCR Supported PDF and not in the form of Image PDF.”

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O.A No. 697/2022

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Ram Keval Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.

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In compliance thereof Action Taken Report has been filed by UPPCB vide email dated 18.01.2023. The relevant part of the report is reproduced

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below:-

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“ Action taken Report in compliance of order dated 01.11.2022 passed by Honourable National Green Tribunal, Principle Bench, New Delhi in O.A. no. 697/2022 Ram Keval V/s State of U.P. Action taken report

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1. In Compliance of the above said orders, U.P. Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) constituted a committee comprising of District Magistrate, Kushinagar, Chief Development Officer, Kushinagar and Regional Officer, Regional Office, U.P. Pollution Control Board, Gorakhpur vide letter no. H 83887/C-6/SA714/O.A. No. 697/2022/2022, dated. 11.11.2022. Copy of the said letter is a annexed as annexure-01

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2. In compliance of the said order a meeting regarding the complaint was conducted in the chairmanship of District Magistrate, Kushinagar on dt 21.11.2022 and in the meeting District Magistrate, Kushinagar directed SDM, Captanganj, Kushinagar and CO (Police), Captanganj, Kushinagar for removing illegal encroachment in the ponds and Garbage Dump in to ponds.

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3. In compliance of the said order District Magistrate, Kushinagar nominated Sub Divisional Magistrate, Captanganj, Kushinagar as member of Joint Committee vide letter no. 18/vad Sahayak-2022, dated. 29.11.2022. Copy of the said letter as Annexure-02.

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4. In compliance of the order passed by Honorable N.G.T.and decisions taken in the meeting held on dt 21.11.2022, a joint team of officers of Collectorate, Kushinagar and U.P.Pollution Control Board, Gorakhpur inspected complaint site on dt.07.01.2023. Joint Committee during inspection directed concerned official for removing illegal encroachment and for cleaning the pond.

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5. During inspection committee also contacted complainant Mr. Ram Keval and taken written statement of complainant. Written statement of complainant is enclosed as annexure- 03.

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6. In compliance of decision taken in the meeting held on dated 22.11.2022, a letter was sent SDM, Captanganj, Kushinagar and CO (Police), Captanganj, Kushinagar. Copy of the said letter annexed as annexure-04.

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7. In compliance of direction given by Joint Committee, Concerned official of Tehsil Captanganj, Distt- Kushinagar taken from action and removed illegal encroachment made in pond. Official also taken action regarding cleaning of the pond and maximum portion of garbage removed from the pond. Photograph of the complaint site is annexed as annxure-05.

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8. Regarding removal of illegal encroachment and cleaning of pond, Report sent by official of Tehsil- Captanganj, DisttKushinagar is enclosed as annexure-06.

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O.A No. 697/2022

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Ram Keval Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.

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Above mentioned action taken report regarding order passed by Honorable N.G.T. on dated 01.11.2022 in O.A. No. 697/2022 is submitted in form of searchable PDF/OCR supported by PDF.”

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In the Action Taken Report, it has been mentioned that Mr. Ram Keval S/o Mr. Nandlal stated before the Joint Committee that he had not made any complaint/application to this Tribunal.

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However this fact is hardly of any significance as this Tribunal is empowered to suo moto take cognizance of the cases involving questions relating to environment arising out of the implementation of enactments specified in Schedule I of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 as held by Hon’ble Supreme Court in Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai V/s.

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Ankita Sinha and others 2021 SSC Online SC 897 .

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This Tribunal noticed vide order dated 24.01.2023 that the Action Taken Report has been submitted by UPPCB only in respect of pond comprised in Khasra No. 325 (0.08 hectare) and the Joint Committee has not looked into the factual position regarding other ponds. The Joint Committee was directed to undertake visits to the sites, look into the matter of encroachments on other 6 large ponds and 5 small ponds, verify the factual position and submit its report in respect of the same within two months.

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In compliance thereof Action Taken report has been filed by UPPCB vide email dated 12.04.2023. The relevant part of the report is reproduced below:-

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“ Action taken Report in compliance of order dated 24.01.2023 passed by Honourable National Green Tribunal, Principle Bench, New Delhi in O.A. no. 697/2022 Ram Keval V/s State of U.P. Action taken report

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1. In Compliance of the above Orders, CDO, Kushinagar constituted Joint Inspection Committee comprising of District Development Officer, Kushinagar, SDM Captanganj and U.P. Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), Gorakhpur. Copy of the said letter is a annexed as Annexure- 01.

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O.A No. 697/2022

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Ram Keval Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.

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2. In compliance of the said order Joint Inspection Committee visited large ponds comprising of Khasara No. 342 (0.178 Hectare), 382 (0.174 Hectare), 455 (0.316 Hectare), 456 (0.117 Hectare), 531 (0.101 Hectare), 578 (0.038 Hectare) of vill- Gajara, Tehsil- Captanganj, Distt- Kushinagar. At the time of field visit, 03 ponds were found filled with Garbage and other materials. UPPCB Team directed to Village Development Officer and Gram Pradhan of Village Gajara, Tehsil Captanganj, Distt- Kushinagar for cleaning all the 03 ponds in which Garbage and other material was found at the time of inspection.

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3. In compliance of the directions given by Joint Inspection Committee, Village Development Officer Gajra and Gram Pradhan Gajara has informed this office that ponds situated near Khalihan, in the West of Primary School and Chhat Ghat has been cleaned. VDO and Gram Pradhan, Gajara has sent report on dated 05.04.2023 and photograph of the site which is enclosed as Annexure-02.

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4. That the Khasra No. of 05 other small ponds is not mentioned in the order. Process of identification of these 05 small ponds shall only be possible when their Khasra no. is known. Joint Inspection Committee directed VDO and Gram Pradhan for identifying 05 samll ponds at the earliest and make them free from Pollution and Encroachment.

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5. As per spot memo/report of VDO and Gram Pradhan Gajara there is no water in the ponds situated in the west of Primary School and Chhat Ghat.

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Above mentioned Action Taken Report with reference to the order passed by Honorable N.G.T. on 24.01.2023 in O.A. No. 697/2022 is being submitted herewith in form of searchable PDF/OCR supported by PDF.”

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Vide order dated 18.05.2023 State of Uttar Pradesh through Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh; District Magistrate, Kushi Nagar; CDO, Kushi Nagar and Sarpanch, Gram Panchayat, Gajara, Tehsil Kaptanganj, District-Kushinagar, were impleaded as respondents no. 1 to 4 and notices were ordered to be issued to respondents No. 1 to 4 requiring them to file their reply/response within two months.

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In compliance thereof report has been filed by District Magistrate, Kushinagar and Chief Development Officer, Kushinagar vide email dated 15.02.2024. The relevant part of the report is reproduced below:-

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“ मा० रा ीय ह रत अिधकरण, नई िद ी म िवचाराधीन ओ०ए० स ा ं 697/2022 रामकवल बनाम े ट आफ यू०पी० व अ म े मा० अिधकरण क े आदश िदना े क 18.05.2023 क ं अनुपालन म े ितउ र। े

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O.A No. 697/2022

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Ram Keval Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.

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X X X X

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अत: मा० अिधकरण क उ सदिभ े त आदश क े अनुपालन ह े तु मु िवकास े अिधकारी कुशीनगर क काया े लय प स ा 332 िदनाक 16012024 ारा िजला ं िवकास अिधकारी, कुशीनगर, उपिजलािधकारी, क ानगज एव ं ं ीय अिधकारी े उ० ० दूषण िनय ण बोड, गोरखपुर की तीन सद ी सिमित का गठन करत य े े मा० अिधकरण क स े दिभ ं त आदश का अनुपालन करात े य े आ ा ुत करन े े का िनदश िदया गया। िजसक कम सिमित ारा आ ा ुत की गयी ह े . िजसका ै िववरण आ ा िन वत ह- ै

¶82

कमाक	पोखरी का गाटा स ा	पोखरी का कुल े फल	पोखरी का िववरण
07 बड़ीपोखरी
1.	578	96 िड ल	यह पोखरी काली माई के मंिदर के पीछे थत है। पोखरी म वत मान म भी पानी है। पोखरी पर कोई अित मण नहीं है। पोखरी पया गहरी एवं बडी है।
2.	555	79 िड ल	यह पोखरी अमीन के खेत के बगल म थत है। कोई अित मण नहीं है। पया गहरा है। खुदायी की आव कता नही है।
3.	342	44 िड ल	यह पोखरी जवाहर कुशवाहा के मशीन के सामने थत है। कोई अितकमण नहीं है। पोखरी पया गहरी है। वत मान म साफ- सफाई कर दी गयी है। खुदायी की आव कता

¶83

O.A No. 697/2022

¶84

Ram Keval Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.

¶85

¶86

			नहीं है।
4.	382	43 िड ल	यह पोखरी ा० िव ालय के पीछे थत है कोई अित मण नही है। पया गहरी है। खुदायी की आव कता नहीं है।
5.	556	29 िड ल	यह पोखरी खिलहान के बगल म थत है। कोई अित मण नहीं है। पया गहरा है। खुदायी की आव कता नहीं है।
6.	531	25िड ल	पोखरी की पैमाईश कराकर खुदायी / साफ - सफाई कर दी गयी है।
7.	325	20िड ल	यह पोखरी आरती सदन के सामने थत है। पोखरी म वषा ऋतु म पानी भरा आ था . िजसकी खुदाई / साफ सफाई करदी गई है
05पोखरी-छोटी			यह पोखरी
			पंचायत भवन के
8	356	15िड ल	सामने है। वत मान समय म यह साफ-सुथरा है। पोखरी के बंधा के िकनारे छठ पूजा के थल बनाये गये है। पोखरी म पानी नहीं है।

¶87

O.A No. 697/2022

¶88

Ram Keval Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.

¶89

¶90

			अित मण नहीं है।
9	629	04िड ल	कोटवां गांव के समीप ाम सभा गजरा गांव के सीवान म जगरनाथ के घर के बगल म थत है। बरसात म पानी / िस भरा आ था, िजसकी खुदायी कराकर गहरा िकया गया है तथा साफ - सफाई करा दी गयी है।
10	193	03िड ल	यह पोखरी राजी टोला गजरा नं0-3 म है। बरसात म पानी/िस भरा आ था, िजसकी खुदायी / सफाई करा दी गयी है। कोई अित मण नहीं है।
11	321	02िड ल	यह पोखरी जयकरन के घर के पास है. जो आस-पास की भूिम के बरावर समतल ब ी के बीच म है। पोखरी अ छोटी है। पोखरी पर कोई अित मण नहीं है।
12	570 क	01िड ल	इस पोखरी के तीन तरफ सडक है बीच म पोखरी थत है। बरसात म पानी/िस

¶91

O.A No. 697/2022

¶92

Ram Keval Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.

¶93

¶94

भरा आ था, िजसकी खुदायी/साफ- सफाई करा िदया गया है। पोखरी
पर अित मण
नहीं है। पोखरी अ छोटी है।

¶95

करण म की गयी कायवाही की आ ानुसार बादी क मूल आव े दन-प म े उ खत 07 बड़ एव े 05 छोट ं तालाबो े को अित मण मु एव ं साफ-सफाई करा िदया गया ह ं ै अतः करण मबादी का मूल ाथना-प िन ा रत िकय जान े यो ह े ” ै

¶96

None has appeared for the applicant today and the factual position emerging from the report of the Joint Committee and joint action taken report filed by the District Magistrate, Kushinagar and the Chief Development Officer, Kushinagar is not disputed and controverted by any one and there is no ground to doubt the correctness thereof. Consequently, the report of the Joint Committee and joint action taken report filed by the District Magistrate, Kushinagar and the Chief Development Officer, Kushinagar are accepted.

¶97

It is evident from the above mentioned reports that all the seven big and five small ponds have been made free from encroachments and dumping of garbage and other waste.

¶98

In view thereof no further action is required to be taken regarding the ponds at this stage on the present application which is disposed of accordingly with direction to the District Magistrate, Kushinagar, Chief Development Officer, Kushinagar, other District Revenue and Panchayat Department Officers and Regional Officer, UPPCB, Gorakhpur to ensure proper monitoring of the ponds/lakes/waterbodies located in both urban and rural areas of District Kushinagar for the prevention and control of encroachments and pollution in the same.

¶99

O.A No. 697/2022

¶100

Ram Keval Vs. State of U.P. & Ors. 11

¶101

A copy of this order be sent to the District Magistrate, Kushinagar, the Chief Development Officer, Kushinagar, the District Revenue and Panchayat Department Officers and the Regional Officer, UPPCB, Gorakhpur by email for requisite compliance.

¶102

Arun Kumar Tyagi, JM

¶103

Dr. Afroz Ahmad, EM

¶104

July 26^th , 2024 AG

Ram Keval vs

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Ram Keval vs

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Premjibhai Kerasiya vs Harilal Kanji Kerasiya

B Ravi Raja vs Forests and Enovironment Department

Unnikrishnan vs the State of Kerala Rep by the Chief Secertary

Smt. Lalita Sandip Shinde (Deshmukh) vs Nashik Municipal Corporation

M/S Vns Solution through Its Proprietor- Smt. Saroj Sharma Age- 70 Years R/O- 240 New Jiwaji Nagar Thatipur Gwalior M.P. vs State of Madhya Pradesh

Vipin Nayyar vs Union of India

Sandeep vs

Baljinder Singh vs

Ram Milan Sahani vs

Prakash Yadav vs

Om Pal and Ors. vs