Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding waterbody encroachment, Samastipur district, Bihar, 24/03/2025
Order of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of Ram Kumar Vs State of Bihar & Others dated 24/03/2025.
An application was filed before the NGT based on a newspaper article published in the Dainik Bhaskar, December 10, 2024. The article talked about illegal construction and encroachment of a waterbody (pokhara) which is being used as a waste disposal place creating environmental hazards. The applicant said that the site should be developed under the Jal Jeevan Hariyali scheme.
The court directed notice to be issued to the Department of Environment & Forest, Bihar; District Magistrate, Samastipur; Bihar State Pollution Control Board and Nagar Nigam, Samastipur. The authorities have been directed to file their counter affidavits. The NGT also directed the constitution of a three member committee to look into the matter and submit a fact finding report.