National Green Tribunal notice to Noida police officer over water extraction by builders

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has taken strong exception to a Noida police officer not complying with its order on illegal water extraction by builders, asking him why "punitive action" be not taken against him.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notice to Noida Expressway SHO and directed him to be personally present before the tribunal.

On April 23, the green panel had appointed two local commissioners directing them to visit any project in NCR, Delhi and report if groundwater was used.

It had directed all station house officers (SHOs) concerned to provide due protection to the Local Commissioners to ensure the compliance of its order.

"One of the Local Commissioners submits that he himself went to the police station for protection and after showing of order of the tribunal, the SHO concerned, Pankaj Pant, refused to comply with the direction of the tribunal.

"Keeping in view the seriousness of the inspection to be conducted by the Local Commissioner, it was expected that such SHO shall comply with the order," the bench said.

It also additionally appointed advocates Sumeet Sodhi and Atul Batra as local commissioners and asked them to submit their reports before July 8.

The tribunal had earlier rapped the Noida and Greater Noida authorities for their failure to restrain builders from "extracting" ground water and appointed advocates Narender Pal Singh and Sahil Sangar as local commissioners to inspect construction sites there.

The bench had passed the order after perusing the Central Ground Water Authority's (CGWA) affidavit which had said that groundwater level in Noida is under "stress".

The tribunal was hearing the plea of Noida resident Vikrant Kumar Tongad who alleged that real estate developers were withdrawing ground water in violation of its orders.