National Green Tribunal
News Item Titled "Cag Slams Greater ... vs . State Of Uttar Pradesh, Oa No. on 1 September, 2025
Item No. 04 Court No. 1
BEFORE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI
Original Application No. 437/2025
News Item titled "CAG slams Greater Noida for allowing farmhouses on
Hindon floodplain" appearing in The Times of India dated 18.08.2025
Date of hearing: 01.09.2025
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON
HON'BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER
HON'BLE MR. ISHWAR SINGH, EXPERT MEMBER
ORDER
1. This Original Application is registered suo-motu on the basis of the news item titled "CAG slams Greater Noida for allowing farmhouses on Hindon floodplain" appearing in The Times of India dated 18.08.2025.
2. The matter relates to the illegal construction of farmhouses on the Hindon River floodplain permitted by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA). The article mentions that the area where these farmhouses were allowed to be made is a zone meant for natural conservation. The article further mentions that a CAG audit reveals that GNIDA facilitated the development of farmhouse plots in prohibited areas, leading to environmental and regulatory breaches. The news item states that in 2011 GNIDA launched the 'Institutional Farmhouses' scheme, followed by the 'Krishi Farmhouses' scheme, both in violation of existing rules. As per the article, these schemes, initially intended for temporary structures, gradually transformed into permanent houses, shops, and even polluting workshops. At Haibatpur village, Krishi farmhouses were permitted as close as 130 metres from the Hindon's banks, an area 1 designated as a natural conservation zone. The CAG audit highlighted GNIDA's failure to remove encroachments, instead allowing developers to build structures on the floodplains. The article states that the audit report referred to the Regional Plan 2021, which classified the Hindon as a 'natural conservation zone,' permitting only limited activities like farming and afforestation, with construction restricted to 0.5% of the area. The plan explicitly prohibited any construction or habitation in the floodplains, riverbeds, or banks. Further, as per the news item, GNIDA disregarded all these directives by designating the Hindon floodplain as 'agricultural use' in its Master Plan 2021 and proceeding to launch farmhouse schemes in clear violation of the same. The 'Institutional Farmhouses' scheme was introduced to encourage so-called 'planned' agricultural development by auctioning large plots to developers, who in turn could sublease smaller portions for farmhouses. It permitted facilities such as a single dwelling unit, swimming pool, nursery, and other amenities, with construction restricted to a floor area ratio of 15%. The article mentions that in May 2015, GNIDA introduced the 'Krishi Farmhouses' scheme for farmers whose land had been acquired, offering smaller plots through a lottery for temporary structures and farming purposes. A total of nine plots, covering 84,047 sqm, were allotted for Rs. 42 crores. However, these plots in Haibatpur village were located within the Hindon floodplain, only 130 to 553 metres away from the riverbank. Satellite imagery and a joint inspection in 2019 revealed extensive encroachments, including residential houses and shops. Although GNIDA itself acknowledged the encroachments in 2015 and 2016, it failed to take corrective action. Instead, in 2019, its board decided to cancel the scheme and refund deposits to allottees with 4% interest. The article mentions that the audit found that GNIDA neglected its primary duty. Instead of safeguarding the green buffer zones and floodplains, it enabled their conversion into private 2 farmhouse clusters and allowed developers to default on large amounts of money.
3. The above matter indicates violation of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016.
4. The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance of the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment.
5. The Tribunal is also examining the issue of disposal of sewage and encroachment on the flood plains of River Hindon in Ghaziabad in the matter of Shri Krishan Kashyap vs. State of Uttar Pradesh, OA No. 649/2023, which includes demarcation of flood plain zones.
6. Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter suo-motu has been recognized by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the matter of "Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors." reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.
7. Hence, we implead the following as respondents in the matter:
i. Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, through its Chairman, Plot No. 01, Knowledge Park-04, Greater Noida, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh-201308;
ii. Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, through its Member Secretary, Building. No. TC-12V Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow- 226010;
iii. Central Pollution Control Board, through its Member Secretary, Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi-110032; 3 iv. District Magistrate, Gautam Buddh Nagar, National Informatics Centre Collectorate Surajpur, Greater Noida (U.P.); and v. National Mission for Clean Ganga, through its Director General, 1st Floor, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium India Gate, New Delhi - 110002
8. Issue notice to the above respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit at least one week before the next date of hearing. If any respondent directly files the reply without routing it through his advocate then the said respondent will remain virtually present to assist the Tribunal.
9. List on 14.10.2025 along with OA No. 649/2023.
Prakash Shrivastava, CP Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM Ishwar Singh, EM September 01, 2025 Original Application No. 437/2025 R 4