NGT Slaps Rs 10,000 on UP for Non-Compliance in Restoration Case of Sadar Talab
A day before retiring on Thursday, the NGT imposes an imposed fine of Rs 10,000 on UP Govt for not furnishing a compliance report with regards to a case that referred the rejuvenation of the Sadar Talab Pond at Kadaura Nagar Panchayat, within Jalaun district of this state. This for a second time, and is after the state and Local authorities failed to respect a previous order issued last Sept.
The NGT was seized with a plea relating to the restoration of Sadar Talab, which forms the source of water supply to the local people. The pond in the area of Kadaura Nagar Panchayat had undergone much degradation because of encroachment, wrong disposal of wastes, and negligence to it. In September itself, the tribunal had called for a report from the authorities concerned about steps taken in this regard. However, when the case again came up for hearing in the NGT on December 20, neither the Nagar Panchayat Kadaura nor the state government of Uttar Pradesh had filed compliance reports.
The bench, comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, looked visibly agitated. The tribunal further held the Nagar Panchayat Kadaura along with the state of Uttar Pradesh liable to pay costs of Rs 10,000 for having failed to act in pursuance of the orders. Both the state and Nagar Panchayat have been levied this cost subject to the discretion that they shall file their responses within a month. It stated that compliance report is quite very important so that water body could be restored within time so that it has huge importance in the view of the regional water resources as well as in the betterment of people living within that area.
The NGT also observed that even before that reply was filed by Uttar Pradesh State Pollution Control Board but was unsatisfactory in their case. The tribunal noted that neither had the UPPCB filed any compliance report, which added to the frustration of the case. Therefore, the tribunal granted two weeks more to the UPPCB to file its reply subject to the payment of a cost of Rs 5,000. The cost was inflicted on the authorities so that they take more serious steps in the restoration process.
The restoration of Sadar Talab has remained a concern issue for the locality; the lake is responsible for the proper supply of water supply to the various areas within the locality. Its downfall has resulted in less water distribution for drinking as well as irrigation purposes. The encroachments within the pond had to be vacated while the pollution and the various other issues due to their presence were made to abate by preventing further encroachments and properly maintaining them.
This reflects the NGT involvement in the case and shows how people start to get anxious about India’s water body condition due to the high extent to which many of the water bodies undergo degradations caused by processes of urbanization, pollution, as well as poor management. Recently, NGT has been so active in pushing the authority to strictly ensure that people comply with all environmental regulations while taking whatever necessary steps for the proper protection of water bodies.
Sadly enough, where fresh water once irrigated the region, for a decade, Sadár Talab was in disarray on account of waste accumulation. People suffered from water-borne diseases, and the entire aquatic life began to lose its breath. NGT is being hailed as the long-awaited step in reviving the pond so that it will not degenerate further.
Conclusion:The tribunal order also calls for the other states and local bodies to strictly comply with the environmental rules and regulations, and promptly address issues regarding the protection and rejuvenation of natural resources. As the NGT has repeatedly pointed out that taking prompt action in such issues can help avert irreparable damage to the environment as well as public health, as delay can prove dangerous in these respects. The restoration case of Sadar Talab is specific to Kadaura Nagar Panchayat, but it denotes the common problem of water bodies of the country. India faces an increasing water crisis due to most rivers, lakes, and ponds facing the issues of pollution, encroachment, and mismanagement. It is only through an active role of NGT that authorities will be brought to book and water bodies preserved for future generations.It will most probably be after two months for the next date of hearing in the Sadar Talab case. NGT has given directions for compliance along with reporting within deadlines to the concerned authorities.