Noida: The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed government authorities in Delhi, Haryana and UP to clarify the basis on which they carve exceptions for construction activities on the floodplain areas of rivers. Clarifications were sought after authorities submitted a reply that exceptions have been granted for construction of certain buildings, particularly in east Delhi, on the floodplain of the Yamuna.

The tribunal has directed the DDA vice-chairman and the principal secretary (irrigation ) of UP government to clarify their policies in relation to floodplain areas.

The two states have been directed to submit their policies due to vast discrepancies in separate regions over demarcation of floodplain zones. The tribunal passed these directions while hearing a petition which alleged that adverse environmental impacts have resulted from massive encroachments of the floodplains of the Yamuna and the Hindon.

DDA and the UP government have been asked to list out activities, if any, that are permissible on floodplains or riverfront areas legally.

The tribunal also directed Noida Authority to submit the complete list of illegal and unauthorized structures raised on the Yamuna floodplains in Gautam Budh Nagar.

The Authority was directed to submit the list after it informed the tribunal on Wednesday that so far 32 constructions on the floodplain areas have been found by it to have been raised in an unauthorized manner.

Source:[url=http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/]Times of India Publications[/url]

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