NGT directs states, UTs to designate nodal agency for protection of water bodies

NT NETWORK

Panaji

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed all states and union territories to designate a nodal agency for restoration of water bodies, in their respective states.

The direction comes on a petition filed by a Ghaziabad-based environmentalist Sushil Raghav over encroachment of water bodies in Ghaziabad district for industrial purposes in violation of law.

The three member bench headed by Adarsh Kumar Goel underlined the need for continuous planning and monitoring at National, State and District levels and directed the designated nodal agency to hold meeting under the oversight of the chief secretaries of the states to take stock of the situation with the monitoring of Central Monitoring Committee on the steps taken for restoration of water bodies.

The court said that as suggested by the CPCB, a single agency needs to be set up in every State/UTs within one month. This work may either be assigned to the Wetland Authority of the State or the River Rejuvenation Committee or to any other designated authority such as the Secretary, Irrigation and Public Health/Water Resources.

 “All states/UTs may forthwith designate a nodal agency for restoration of water bodies, wherever no such agency has so far been so designated and hold its meeting to take stock of the situation and plan further steps, including directions to district authorities for further course of action upto panchayat levels and submit periodical reports to the CPCB/Secretary Jal Shakti,” the order reads.

The court has also directed the Central Monitoring Committee on river rejuvenation, headed by the secretary, MoJS to monitor the steps for restoration of water bodies by all the states periodically, atleast thrice in a year and submit the action reports and first such report to be furnished preferably by April 30 by e-mail.

In Goa the water resource department has identified and Geo tagged around 98 water bodies which are in surface area of more than 2000m2. However the identification of water bodies which are less than 2000m2 area are in progress.

The department has taken up four polluted lakes for rejuvenation – namely Carambolim Lake, Batim lake, Arambol lake in North and Saipem lake in South Goa.

The court said several directions have been issued to state governments on polluted river stretch and management of solid waste in the country and even made the Chief Secretaries of all the States/UTs to remain present in person before this Tribunal for interaction and further planning.

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