The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a strict two-month deadline to the Haryana government, demanding a detailed response on allegations of widespread encroachment on vital ponds in Gurgaon. The tribunal's principal bench, led by Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, heard the petition on January 5 and has scheduled the next hearing for April 10.
Petition Details Widespread Encroachment
The case, filed by activist Vaishali Rana in April 2025, hinges on a December 2024 RTI reply from the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG). The petition identifies four specific ponds in the city's revenue records that have been allegedly encroached upon or destroyed. These water bodies are located in Gwal Pahari's Wazirabad area (khasra numbers 85 and 90), inside Nirvana Country (Sector 50), and near Harijan Basti in Badshapur.
Shockingly, the RTI response confirmed that a former municipal councillor constructed a three-storey office building directly over the pond in Nirvana Country. Recent satellite imagery corroborates this, showing a multi-storey structure where a natural water catchment once existed.
A Pattern of Destruction and Legal Precedents
The petition reveals a troubling pattern beyond these four sites. In Badshapur—an area notorious for monsoon flooding—the pond has been divided into residential plots in official records. In separate incidents, temples have been built on ponds in Kadarpur, and a private firm is accused of dumping construction debris into a pond in Gwal Pahari.
"These are not isolated cases," said petitioner Vaishali Rana. "Gurgaon desperately needs its natural drainage channels, but we are doing the opposite by choking the very waterbodies that could prevent flooding."
The NGT bench explicitly referred to landmark Supreme Court judgments, including Hinch Lal Tiwari vs Kamla Devi (2001) and Jagpal Singh vs State of Punjab (2011). These rulings categorically state that ponds cannot be encroached upon or commercialised and must be restored for public benefit.
Government's Delayed Response and Legal Mandate
This is not the first time the tribunal has sought action. Earlier, on May 30, 2024, another NGT bench chaired by Justice Prakash Shrivastava had issued notices to the Haryana government, MCG, Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), and the state's pond and water management authority. The bench had noted serious concerns over violations of environmental laws and the degradation of natural resources. However, the replies sought at that time have still not been submitted.
The NGT has now directed the state and other respondents to file their replies within two months, clearly detailing the action taken in compliance with the Supreme Court's mandates. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 prohibits dumping waste in or damaging water bodies, with violations attracting penalties. The tribunal has consistently directed states to protect and restore ponds and wetlands as part of their non-negotiable public trust obligations.
The upcoming hearing on April 10 will scrutinize whether the Haryana government has finally moved to reclaim and restore these critical natural assets, essential for Gurgaon's ecological balance and flood prevention.
