The National Green Tribunal today asked the states concerned to submit their response on the issue of shrinkage in Natural Conservation Zones (NCZs) like forests, water bodies and waste lands in the National Capital Region.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the states to file their reply within two weeks from today while posting the matter for further consideration on February 13.
"In the event reply is not filed, the concerned Secretary of the state shall be present before the Tribunal with complete records and show if the shrinkage of the National Conservation Zones as stated is factually correct or not," the bench said.
Earlier, in an affidavit filed before the tribunal, National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) had submitted that the shrinkage is in Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and NCT-Delhi.
It has said that NCRPRB after perusing the variations shown in analysis done by National Remote Sensing Centre immediately acted upon the observations and sent letters to participating states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and NCT Delhi and sought response for such shrinkage.
According to NCRPB, the shrinkage of NCZ in Haryana sub-region is 25.97 per cent, 15.43 per cent in NCT Delhi, 43.88 per cent in Uttar Pradesh sub region and 11.18 per cent in Rajasthan sub region.
The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by senior advocate Raj Panjwani, appearing for Legal Aid Committee National Green Tribunal Bar Association against the alarming rate of depletion of NCZs in NCR.
