Kolkata: Panel to continue monitoring wetlands, says NGT

KOLKATA: The special bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the continuation of the East Kolkata Wetland Monitoring Committee headed by the state chief secretary, which will meet at least once a month and upload its minutes on the website of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board. Any stakeholder/citizen can give suggestions for consideration by the committee, which was formed in response to a case filed by green activist Subhas Datta.
The special bench of justices Adarsh Kumar Goel (NGT chairperson), Sudhir Agarwal and B Amit Sthalekar (both judicial members), expert members Saibal Dasgupta and A Senthil Vel also said that the water quality monitoring of wetlands and water bodies should be a regular feature of the execution plan.
The special bench has also asked for proper implementation of Integrated Management Action Plan for East Kolkata Wetlands 2021-2026. In the revised Management Action Plan, the budget has been revised to Rs 110.7 crore from Rs 119.8 crores. The NGT expressed concern over huge encroachments of EKW. There are more than 25,000 encroachments. On behalf of the state, it is submitted that action has been initiated against the encroachers. One of the reasons for the delay in taking action is stated to be on account of the long-pending cases filed under the East Kolkata Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Act, 2006.
This matter is of serious concern and requires monitoring but is not within the domain of the tribunal. We, therefore, request the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court to be gracious enough to look into the matter so that the matters relating to serious environmental infractions are heard and disposed of expeditiously, the bench observed.
We direct the state, more particularly the environment department, to file an affidavit to place on record the present status of all actions taken and also an action plan that is dealing with the matter. We also direct the BMC to place on record the latest status. Let the Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority (NDITA) and the New Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) also file reports on the current status, the bench added.