NGT slams UP govt for failure to perform "statutory duty"

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal today pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government for failure to perform its "statutory duty" towards identification of wetlands in the state and directed it to complete the exercise within a period of three months in accordance with the law.

"We direct Uttar Pradesh (government) to exercise its powers under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 and take a decision in identifying wetlands in the entire state in accordance with law and within a period of three months from the date of receipt of the copy of the order," a bench headed by Justice P Jyothimani said.

"While taking such decision, UP (government) shall give opportunity of personal hearing to the applicant with reference to the wetlands referred to in the application (and) thereafter pass orders identifying the wetlands. Such orders of the state identifying the wetlands shall be forwarded to MoEF which shall notify the wetlands in the state in accordance with law expeditiously," it said.

The order of the tribunal came during the hearing of a plea filed by environment activist R K Singh seeking directions to identify all wetlands within Uttar Pradesh as per the provisions of Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010.

The bench disposed of the plea which had said that large areas which are ecologically important, are being lost as they have not been notified as protected under the law.

The plea had also sought directions to the Centre and to the state government to notify these wetlands without any further delay.

The UP government had informed the tribunal that it has not identified wetlands in the catchment areas as per the 2010 rules.