National Green Tribunal Raps Noida Officials

Lucknow, Jan 13 (IANS) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Tuesday rapped Noida officials for not coming prepared for a case relating to 300 farmhouses on the banks of Yamuna which were declared illegal by it earlier.

During the hearing at the principal bench in New Delhi, the NGT while listing the case for next hearing Jan 30 also asked officials to come with details of what action had been taken regarding the farmhouses.

The tribunal had not only stayed further construction of farm houses in the area but had also served notice to the Uttar Pradesh government seeking to know what action had been taken in pursuance to its earlier orders.

Sources, however, told IANS that the state government failed to give an undertaking to the NGT with regard to the issue, and added that construction was still going on in certain farmhouses.

Amit Khemka, lawyer of the petitioners said that all these farmhouses near the Okhla barrage had already been declared illegal.

He said the irrigation department of the UP government was to give an undertaking about its commitment to adhere to the tribunal's order but it failed to do so Tuesday and sought more time.