NOIDA: The National Green Tribunal on Monday formed a panel of experts to examine unauthorized construction activities on a Sahibabad drain and over a green belt in Ghaziabad. The panel, which comprises officials of various government departments and agencies, has been directed to begin its inspection in a week.

The directions were issued by a NGT bench headed by Justice P Jyothimani, based on a petition filed by Ghaziabad-based environmental activist Hazi Arif. The petitioner complained of release of untreated industrial effluents into the drain and alleged that illegal construction on a green belt near Kaushambi Metro station has been leading to the depletion of groundwater, apart from affecting the green cover.

The panel formed by the tribunal comprises officials from UP forest department and UP Pollution Control Board ( UPPCB), among other agencies, and is headed by advocate Parul Gupta. The Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation has been directed to bear the expenses of the survey.

The committee has been asked to survey the entire green belt in Zone 5 in Vaishali, Ghaziabad to check illegal constructions on the green belt. The panel has been further directed to check into the issue of
discharge of untreated industrial effluents into Sahibabad drain No. 1 which ultimately empties into the Yamuna near Kalindi Kunj in Delhi.

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