Delhi Wetland Authority Informs NGT That NHAI Built Road on Protected Waterbody
The Delhi Wetland Authority has officially informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that the land used by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to construct an elevated road for the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) corridor in Goyla Khurd village, south-west Delhi, is recorded as a listed waterbody. In its submission, the authority emphasized that construction on such wetland land is strictly prohibited, as the pond is part of the notified list of wetlands designated for protection in the capital.
Authority Highlights DDA's Responsibility for Waterbody Safeguarding
In a report dated February 11, the Delhi Wetland Authority stated, "Village Goyla Khurd is a listed waterbody under the Wetland Authority of Delhi. Being an ecologically significant asset, the waterbody must be safeguarded from encroachment, pollution and any form of degradation." The authority clarified that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), as the land-owning agency, holds the primary responsibility for protecting the waterbody from encroachment and degradation. It noted that all waterbodies across Delhi fall under the control of their respective land-owning agencies, which are mandated to take immediate steps for:
- Protection and restoration of the waterbody
- Preventing sewage inflow
- Demarcating boundaries clearly
- Ensuring ecological improvement for long-term conservation
NHAI's Construction and Land Return Issues
According to the submission, NHAI had taken over the land in question to build a flyover, which has since been completed. NHAI informed the district magistrate (south-west) about its intention to return the land after fulfilling the acquisition purpose. However, it reported that no response had been received from the district administration, complicating the handover process.
NGT Directives for Waterbody Revival
In response, the NGT has directed the district magistrate (south-west) to coordinate with the gram sabha and the DDA to take over the land and initiate work on reviving the waterbody. Authorities have been instructed to submit a detailed action plan within one month of taking possession. The report also flagged a critical issue of sewage from a neighbouring village flowing into the waterbody, calling for immediate measures to halt this pollution inflow.
Background and Tribunal Proceedings
The DDA's reply came after the NGT in 2024 took suo motu cognisance of a TOI report titled "NHAI has made highway at protected pond site in Delhi: Activist." This report highlighted that NHAI had constructed the UER-II over a pond in Goyla Khurd, which is one of more than 1,000 water bodies identified for protection in Delhi. In 2025, the tribunal sought explanations from the DDA, NHAI, the Delhi Wetland Authority, and the Union government.
In an earlier order, the NGT criticized NHAI, describing some of its submissions as "vague and cryptic." Paras Tyagi, a public policy expert with the Centre for Youth Culture, Law and Environment (CYCLE), who raised the issue, alleged that NHAI misled authorities about compliance with environmental norms. The matter continues to be heard by the tribunal, with ongoing scrutiny of the environmental violations and the steps needed for remediation.
