National Green Tribunal
Rupesh Kumar And Ors vs State Of Uttar Pradesh & Ors on 23 December, 2025
Item No. 02 Court No. 2
BEFORE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI
Original Application No. 646/2025
Rupesh Kumar and Ors. Applicants
Versus
State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors. Respondents
Date of hearing: 23.12.2025
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR TYAGI, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE MR. ISHWAR SINGH, EXPERT MEMBER
Applicants: Applicant no. 1-Mr. Rupesh Kumar in person through V.C.
ORDER
1. Mr. Rupesh Kumar and others have sent the present letter petition by attaching the same with complaint dated 15.07.2025 made on Public Grievances Portal of this Tribunal, which has been treated and registered as O.A. No. 646/2025 for exercise of suo moto jurisdiction in view of law laid down by Hon'ble Supreme Court in Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha, (2022) 13 SCC 401.
2. The applicants have raised grievances regarding encroachments and raising of illegal constructions on pond situated within the area of Nagar Panchayat, Karnawal, District Meerut. The relevant part of the letter petition enumerating grievances of the applicants is reproduced as follows:-
xxx.............................................xxx.............................................xxx "विषयः नगर पंचायत करनािल (मेरठ) में सरधना रोड स्थित तालाब में अिैध रूप से कंक्रीट एिं पत्थर डालकर तालाब को पाटने के संबंध में विकायत।
महोदय, 1 सविनय वनिेदन है वक हम प्रार्थीगण नगर पंचायत करनािल, तहसील सरधना, विला मेरठ के वनिासी एिं विम्मेदार नागररक हैं। हमारे कस्बे में सरधना रोड पर एक बडा सािविवनक तालाब स्थित है. िो िषाव िल संचयन एिं भूिल संरक्षण का महत्वपूणव स्रोत है। दु खपूिवक अिगत कराना है वक नगर पंचायत करनािल के ितवमान चेयरमैन, अवधिासी अवधकारी एि ठे केदार द्वारा उक्त तालाब में अिैध रूप से ईंट, पत्थर एिं मलबा डलिाकर उसे पाटने तर्था समाप्त करने का प्रयास ितवमान समय में भी लगातार वकया िा रहा है, िो माननीय सिोच्च न्यायालय के स्पष्ट वदिा-वनदे िों के विपरीत है। विवदत हो वक सिोच्च न्यायालय ने तालाबों के संरक्षण एिं उनकी मरम्मत कर उन्हें सुरवक्षत रखने के सख्त आदे ि वदए हैं, विससे प्राकृवतक िल स्रोत संरवक्षत रहें और िनवहत में उपयोग हो सकें।
िब प्रार्थीगणों द्वारा तालाब को पाटने के इस अिैध कायव का विरोध वकया गया तो चेयरमैन द्वारा प्रार्थीगणों को झूठे मुकदमों में फंसाने की धमवकयााँ दी िा रही है। अतः हम आपसे वनिेदन करते हैं वक:-
1-उक्त तालाब में तत्काल मलबा एिं कंक्रीट डालने का कायव बंद कराया िाए। 2-तालाब में अब तक डाला गया मलबा एिं कंक्रीट वनकलिाया िाए। 3-तालाब की रािस्व अवभलेख अनुसार पैमाइि कराई िाए एिं मूल स्वरूप में बहाल कराया िाए। 4-तालाब की उवचत सफाई कराकर िल संरक्षण हेतु उसे सुरवक्षत रखा िाए। कृपया उक्त प्रकरण को िनवहत से िुडा समझकर तत्काल प्रभािी कायविाही कराना सुवनवित करने की कृपा करें , तावक प्राकृवतक िल स्रोतों का संरक्षण हो सके। आपकी अवत कृपा होगी।."
3. English translation by the Registry of this Tribunal of the relevant part of the letter petition reproduced above reads as under:-
"Subject: Complaint regarding illegal dumping of concrete and stones to fill and encroach upon the pond located on Sardhana Road, Nagar Panchayat Karnawal (Meerut).
Sir, With due respect, we, the applicants, are residents and responsible citizens of Nagar Panchayat Karnawal, Tehsil Sardhana, District Meerut. In our town, there is a large public pond situated on Sardhana Road, which serves as an important source for rainwater harvesting and groundwater conservation.
It is with deep regret that we inform you that the present Chairman of Nagar Panchayat Karnawal, the Executive Officer, and a contractor are illegally dumping bricks, stones, and debris into the said pond with the intention of filling it up and destroying it. This illegal activity is still ongoing and is in clear violation of the explicit directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, which has issued strict orders for the protection, preservation, and restoration of ponds to ensure conservation of natural water sources for public benefit. When the applicants opposed this illegal act of filling the pond, the Chairman threatened us with false criminal cases. Therefore, we humbly request you to kindly take the following actions:
1. Immediately stop the ongoing dumping of debris and concrete into the said pond.
2. Remove all the debris and concrete that has been dumped in the pond so far.2
3. Conduct a measurement (demarcation) of the pond as per the revenue records and restore it to its original condition.
4. Ensure proper cleaning of the pond and take necessary steps to conserve it as a natural water source.
We request you to kindly consider this matter as one of significant public interest and ensure immediate and effective action so that natural water resources can be preserved.
We shall be grateful for your kind cooperation. Enclosures:
1. Photographs showing the debris dumped in the pond.
2. Joint signatures of the applicants.
Date: 14/07/2025 Ward Members and Applicants - Nagar Panchayat Karnawal, District Meerut, Uttar Pradesh - 250344."
4. Prima facie the averments made in the application raise substantial questions relating to environment arising out of the implementation of the enactments specified in Schedule-I to the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
5. It may be observed here that in O.A. No. 929/2024 titled as National Green Tribunal Vs. State of U.P and others this Tribunal has, vide order dated 06.11.2025, already issued directions regarding removal of encroachments from ponds reported to be partially or completely encroached upon and restoration/rejuvenation of all the ponds in District Meerut.
6. In view of the averments in the application, we consider it appropriate to have response of (1) State of Uttar Pradesh through Principal Secretary, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of U.P. (2) District Magistrate, Meerut (3) State Wetland Authority, (4) District Wetland Committee, (5) Divisional Forest Officer, Meerut (6) Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) through Member Secretary who are impleaded as respondents No. 1 to 6.
7. The Registry is directed to prepare and attach memo of parties to the application.
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8. Mr. Bhanwar Pal Singh Jadon, Advocate has appeared and accepted notices on behalf of respondents no. 1 to 5.
9. The Registry is directed to issue notice to respondent no. 6 along with copy of the original application and documents attached with the same.
10. Responses by the respondents no. 1 to 6 may be filed within four weeks giving details of action taken with respect to the pond situated within the area of Nagar Panchayat, Karnawal, District Meerut, which is subject matter of the present application, in compliance of order dated 06.11.2025 passed by this Tribunal in O.A. No. 929/2024 titled as National Green Tribunal Vs. State of U.P and others.
11. List on 04.02.2026 for further consideration.
12. The applicant may be informed about the next date of hearing fixed and be asked to join the proceedings physically or through V.C. on that date.
Arun Kumar Tyagi, JM Ishwar Singh, EM December 23rd, 2025 Original Application No. 646/2025 AB 4