New Delhi, Jan 22 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a news report concerning the tragic death of 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta, who died after his car fell into a water-filled ditch in Noida’s Sector-150.
A Bench of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr A. Senthil Vel sought responses from the Noida Authority, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, the Irrigation Department, the Principal Secretary (Environment), and the District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar in the matter.
Issuing notice to all authorities, the green tribunal directed them to file their replies by way of affidavit at least one week before the next hearing.
The matter has been listed for further consideration on April 10.
According to the news item, the victim allegedly fell into a water-filled trench after taking a sharp right-angle turn amid foggy conditions. The land parcel where the incident occurred was originally allotted for a private mall project, but had, over the years, turned into a pond due to the accumulation of rainwater and wastewater discharged from nearby housing societies.
The report further indicated that despite a stormwater management plan being prepared by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department in 2015, no remedial measures were implemented on the ground. Documents assessed showed that a proposal to construct a head regulator to divert excess water into the Hindon River remained unexecuted, leading to severe waterlogging in the area.
The absence of a controlled outlet reportedly resulted in flooding of basements in nearby housing societies and eventual stagnation of water.
“The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance with the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment,” said the NGT, observing that the matter prima facie indicates violation of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Meanwhile, the probe into the incident gathered pace on Tuesday as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) commenced its inquiry into the circumstances leading to Yuvraj Mehta’s death.
The SIT was constituted on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, following serious allegations of negligence and has been instructed to submit its report to the state government within five days.
The Chief Minister has removed Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M. from his post and terminated the services of a junior engineer. Police have also arrested a builder-cum-developer on charges of criminal negligence in connection with the incident.
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