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Work on constructing 10 waterbodies in the Asola Wildlife Sanctuary, Delhi, is progressing, according to a report submitted by the Wetland Authority of Delhi on December 4, 2024. The report was filed in compliance with a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order issued on May 10, 2024.
A joint inspection was conducted on June 11, 2024 to review the construction of the waterbodies in the forested area of the sanctuary in South Delhi district. Officials from the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Forest Department and Wetland Authority of Delhi participated in the inspection.
The Department of Forest and Wildlife’s South Division submitted a detailed report on the construction of 10 new waterbodies in Maidan Garhi, Sahoopur and Satbari areas. These areas have experienced significant groundwater depletion over the past decade.
The Forest Department’s report stated that the construction of the waterbodies is being carried out in two phases. Tasks such as tree plantation around the waterbodies, dredging, and proper bunding have been completed in many locations. Additionally, doob grass (a native grass species) and shrubs have been planted on the bunds at several sites.
The court was hearing a case concerning the conservation of monsoon water through refurbished wetlands in the Asola Wildlife Sanctuary and the South Forest Division under the Delhi Forest and Wildlife Department. A news report published in the newspaper The Times of India on March 12, 2024 highlighted that officials had identified 10 major wetlands in South Delhi’s forest areas for this purpose.
The central bench of the NGT, on December 2, 2024, directed the authorities to complete the construction of the sewage treatment plant (STP) at Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh. The tribunal ordered the project to be finished and operational by December 31, 2025, with a compliance affidavit to be filed by January 15, 2026.
The case concerns the discharge of untreated water into a waterbody in the Narmada and encroachments in the area.
An affidavit dated November 28, 2024, filed by the engineer-in-chief of the Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Committee, included a progress report. The report presented a tabular representation of the status of STP projects across cities and towns. It stated that projects in Amarkantak, Jabalpur, Bhedaghat, and Saikheda have been fully completed.
Work on the STP at Dindori is 90 per cent complete, while the progress for Mandla stands at 76.79 per cent. Construction of the STP at Narsinghpur has reached 85.5 per cent completion, but the Narmadapuram project lags behind with only 25 per cent of the work completed. The report noted that the contractor stopped work on July 14, 2022.
The NGT granted the authorities one month to remove the remaining encroachments from forest land in Raghogarh Tehsil, Guna district, Madhya Pradesh. An affidavit of compliance must be submitted by January 15, 2025, the tribunal stated on December 4, 2024.
The matter pertains to violations of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and encroachments on forest land in Raghogarh Tehsil. It was alleged that individuals had unlawfully converted forest land for personal use, contravening environmental regulations.
Counsel for the State of Madhya Pradesh informed the tribunal that 99 hectares of land had been freed from encroachments. Efforts are underway to clear the remaining 60 hectares. The counsel requested one month for the authorities to complete the removal process.