At a time when air pollution has reached alarming levels, the Natural Conservation Zones (NCZs), which also act as carbon sinks, have registered a sharp decline in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan due to non-implementation of policies in place by the States.
The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) on Friday informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it has found variations in the NCZs in the NCR States of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, which have failed to give cogent reasons for shrinkage of the same.
The Board said: “None of these States have given cogent reasons for shrinkage in NCZs so far, thus this court [NGT] may take appropriate action. Non-implementation of policies of regional plan relating to NCZs by these States has led to violation of policies and proposals of regional Plan- 2021. The matter of NCZs should be treated seriously and if no justifiable reason is given, shrinkage in NCZs would be treated as violation.”
After perusing the note submitted by NCRPB, the Bench, headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, said: “It is a matter of serious concern and all the authorities are expected to examine it.”
“We direct all the four States, i.e., Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to file comprehensive reply to the note submitted by the NCRPB within two weeks,” the bench said, adding that the reply be filed by the highest officer of the State.
The NCRPB said none of the four States have delineated NCZs due to which the issue of encroachment cannot be addressed.
The Regional Plan -2021 provides for NCZs in the NCR. The NCZs include forests and sanctuaries, water bodies and wetlands, groundwater rechargeable areas, Aravallis and Wastelands, including gullied land, salt-affected land, waterlogged, barren and rocky areas and river sand.
The NCRPB, along with the National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO, had carried out land use change analysis of NCZs and found the shrinkage while comparing data from 1999 and 2012.
“One of the burning examples is the encroachment on U-shaped paleo channel [Dadri wetland] in Gautam Budh Nagar. There is also an alarming situation where four districts of Panipat, Sonepat, Rohtak and Jhajjar in Haryana have less than two per cent of total area under forest cover against 10 per cent recommended in the Regional Plan- 2021,” the Board said.
It said notices were issued to all States and a meeting was held in July, wherein it was decided that the NCZs in the NCR be delineated by each participating State within 30 days.
