‘Close drain flowing into forest’ Hindustan Times 22 October 2012

Acting tough following yet another Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the Allahabad High Court, in an interim order, has directed the civic agencies to cement the drain which allegedly overflows into the green area of Sai Upvan city forest in Ghaziabad. The court has also directed that there should be sewage treatment plant (STP) to protect the water of river Hindon from pollution. The interim order came from Acting Chief Justice Amitava Lala and Justice Ashok Srivastava on a PIL filed by Ghaziabad councillor Rajendra Tyagi. He had filed the PIL against the proposed golf course by the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) over 81 acres of the Sai Upvan city forest.
Tyagi had also alleged that a drain was flowing into the forest area and the sewage was destroying the trees.
In his PIL, Tyagi had also requested that the court stop any non-forest activity in the area and direct the agencies to initiate a reforestation drive. He also wanted the court to ensure that no untreated sewage is dumped into River Hindon and that the drain was cemented.
Also stating that there should be substantial development in this regard — which should also be reported to the court — the court order also stated: “In case of failure, the Municipal Commissioner of Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam will be directed to be personally present before this court.”
The court also connected Tyagi’s PIL to another PIL filed by Alok Kumar, vice-president of Ghaziabad RWA Federation (Indirapuram zone). Kumar had also moved court against the proposed golf course project and had filed a supplementary affidavit along with his main petition which called for better implementation of the UP Apartment Act 2010.
Earlier, in an interim order on October 4 over Kumar’s PIL, the court had ordered that status quo be maintained for Sai Upvan and Kanha Upvan green areas. In its counter affidavit, the GDA had stated that no project had be en finalised as yet and requested that the interim order be vacated.