The Supreme Court, Thursday, issued Notices to the Haryana govt, NCT of Delhi, MOEF&CC and others on an appeal challenging the Order of the NGT, delegating the issue of Notification of transboundary Najafgarh Jheel, to an LG-headed committee and allowing an Inter Ministerial Group to continue dealing with the waterbody.
The 7 Sq. Km. Najafgarh Jheel is the largest water body in Delhi and NCR, falling equally in Delhi and Gurgaon, and is critical for the water security of the two parched regions.
Mr. Akash Vashishtha, Advocate, appearing for the Appellant, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) submitted that the LG-headed committee had neither the power nor the competence and nor expertise either to take up the issue of Notification and declaration of Najafgarh Jheel as a wetland.
“The Inter Miniaterial Group constituted by the MOEF&CC also had no role or power under the Wetland Rules, 2017 to notify the Najafgarh Jheel as a wetland or get it notified,” Mr. Vashishtha submitted, before the Bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Sanjay Karol.
The court has posted the matter for 24.07.2023.
