National Green Tribunal
Amandeep Singh Sandhu vs State Of U.P on 4 October, 2023
Item No.4 (Court No. 2)
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
PRINCIPAL BENCH
(By Video Conferencing)
M.A. No. 40/2023
IN
Original Application No. 293/2022
Amandeep Singh Sandhu Applicant
Versus
State of U.P. Respondent
Date of hearing: 04.10.2023
CORAM:HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR TYAGI, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE DR. AFROZ AHMAD, EXPERT MEMBER
Applicant: None for applicant.
Respondent: Mr. Arvind Kumar, Advocate for UPPCB.
Application is registered based on a complaint received by Email
ORDER
1. Vide order dated 26.05.2023, noticed were ordered to be issued to the State of U.P. through its Chief Secretary, Government of U.P., Member Secretary, U.P. State Ground Water Authority, District Agriculture Officer and District Magistrate, Lakhimpur-Khiri, Uttar Pradesh.
2. As per office report notices were sent to respondents no. 1 to 5 by email. None has appeared for respondents no. 1 and 3 to 5.
3. Report dated 26.09.2023 has been filed on behalf of State Ground Water Authority by way of email dated 26.09.2023.
4. We have gone through report filed by State Ground Water Authority and we find that it is substantial reproduction of the earlier 1 report filed before learned Registrar General of this Tribunal and in both the reports while highlighting the adverse environmental impacts of cultivation of Satha crop it was mentioned that an early decision will be taken in the matter. The case involves the question of permissibility of cultivation of Satha crop in District Lakhimpur-Khiri, Uttar Pradesh. In the reports it has been mentioned that cultivation of Satha crop has been prohibited in adjoining Districts namely; Shahjahanpur and Pilibhit.
5. In view of the facts and circumstances of the case and considering importance of Satha crop as traditional crop with enormous cultural and medicinal values attached to it, we consider it appropriate to constitute a Joint Committee comprising of representative of the Additional Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries, Environment and Forest and Climate Change and Department of Agriculture, Government of U.P., a Scientist to be nominated by Director IARI, Pusa, New Delhi and a Scientist to be nominated by the Vice Chancellor, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, District Ayodhya, State of Uttar Pradesh and Member Secretary, UPPCB to carry out study/assessment of the environmental impacts of cultivation of the Satha crop in the concerned areas of the State of Uttar Pradesh and give its suggestions regarding prohibitory/regulatory/remedial measures required to be taken regarding cultivation thereof in the State of Uttar Pradesh. UPPCB will be nodal agency for coordination and compliance.
6. The report of the Joint Committee may be furnished within two months by e-mail at [email protected] in the form of searchable PDF/OCR Support PDF and not in the form of Image PDF.
7. List for further consideration on 23.01.2024. 2
8. A copy of this order be sent to the Additional Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries, Environment and Forest and Climate Change and Department of Agriculture, Government of U.P, Director IARI, Pusa, New Delhi, Vice Chancellor, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, District Ayodhya, State of Uttar Pradesh and Member Secretary, UPPCB by email for requisite compliance.
Arun Kumar Tyagi, JM Dr. Afroz Ahmad, EM October 04, 2023 M.A. No. 40/2023 Original Application No. 293/2022 N 3