National Green Tribunal Takes Suo Motu Cognisance of Noida Authority CEO Removal Case
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a Times of India report concerning the removal of the Noida Authority CEO following the tragic death of software engineer Yuvraj Mehta in a waterlogged pit. The tribunal has formally sought detailed responses from multiple key stakeholders in this matter.
NGT Impleads State Government and Authorities
On Thursday, the NGT's principal bench officially impleaded several entities in this case, including:
- The Uttar Pradesh state government
- Noida Authority
- The pollution control board
- The district magistrate
The tribunal has directed these parties to file their responses through affidavits at least one week before the next scheduled hearing on April 10. The matter has been registered as an original application (OA-52/2026) before the tribunal.
Potential Environmental Violations Identified
Chairperson Prakash Srivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel noted that the facts emerging from the news report indicate possible violations of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The bench specifically observed that "the news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance with environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment."
The tribunal highlighted concerning details about the land where the fatal incident occurred. According to the report, this land was originally allotted for a private mall project but had "turned into a pond" after rainwater and wastewater from nearby housing societies accumulated there for approximately a decade.
Stormwater Management Plan Remained Unimplemented
The NGT bench pointed to the claim that a stormwater management plan prepared by the irrigation department back in 2015 had "remained on paper despite multiple rounds of surveys and site inspections." This revelation raises serious questions about implementation gaps in critical infrastructure projects.
Referring to the same report, the tribunal noted that the irrigation department had proposed constructing a head regulator in 2015 to divert water into the Hindon River. The department reportedly received Rs 13 lakh from Noida Authority in 2016 specifically to conduct surveys and prepare designs for this project.
Technical Recommendations and Consequences of Delay
The NGT quoted from the report regarding technical aspects of stormwater management, noting that stormwater from existing drains could increase discharge levels. The report had suggested using hydraulic or pneumatic gates instead of mechanical ones for better water management.
The bench further cited the report's description of the severe consequences resulting from project delays, including:
- Severe waterlogging in the area
- Flooded basements in nearby housing societies
- Rainwater that could not be discharged into the Hindon River "in the absence of a regulator"
The tribunal noted the report's observation that "without a controlled outlet, water stagnated and risked backflow into the river that swelled." This situation created dangerous conditions that ultimately led to the tragic incident.
Resident Allegations and Authority Inaction
The NGT also took serious note of residents' allegations regarding inaction by the Noida Authority. The bench observed that these claims indicate significant lapses in implementing remedial measures to address the waterlogging problem that had persisted for years.
The tribunal's intervention comes at a critical juncture, highlighting systemic failures in urban water management and environmental compliance. The case underscores the urgent need for accountability and effective implementation of infrastructure projects designed to prevent such tragedies.
