NGT has taken a strict stance on illegal dairies in Yamuna floodplain. After non-compliance of instructions and inspection of temporary cattle shelters, the tribunal ordered the MCD to submit an action taken report within 6 weeks and a fresh report to the DPCC.
New Delhi [भारत]July 18 (ANI): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said that its earlier directions to remove illegal dairy activities from the Yamuna floodplain in Delhi have not been fully followed.
Noting that temporary cattle shelters and animals were still found during recent inspections, the tribunal directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to file an action taken report within six weeks. It has also asked the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to conduct a fresh assessment and submit a fresh report within the same period.
NGT order on illegal dairies
The order was passed by a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Srivastava while hearing a petition seeking enforcement of the tribunal's April 19, 2024 order on illegal dairy farms running on the Yamuna floodplain.
The tribunal observed that DPCC's inspection reports of June 15 and July 2, 2026, showed that though no permanent dairy structure was found, temporary cattle shelters, fodder, dung heaps and about 50-60 cattle were present in the flood area. The tribunal said these findings showed that its earlier directions had not been followed.
What was found during inspection?
The inspection included O-Zone near Mayur Vihar Phase-I, under DND flyover and areas near New Friends Colony. DPCC officials found temporary shelters for cattle at many places and stray cattle grazing in the flood plains. No owner or authorized representative was present during the inspection.
The DPCC also informed the tribunal that it had written to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) asking it to remove illegal encroachments and stray animals from the flood plain areas.
Arguments of DDA and MCD
The DDA informed the tribunal that it had conducted demolition drives against unauthorized dairies. However, she said that after removing the encroachment, cattle owners are bringing back the animals or keeping them under nearby flyovers. According to DDA, the animal husbandry department of MCD should capture such cattle.
The tribunal further said that if cattle are being kept on the site of dairy farms in violation of Central Pollution Control Board guidelines, the DPCC should take appropriate action, including imposing environmental compensation on violators where necessary.
NGT has directed MCD to submit its action taken report within six weeks. It has also asked the DPCC to file a fresh report after considering the tribunal's observations. The next hearing of the case will be on September 25, 2026. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)-
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