NGT Forms Committee To Provide Remedial Measure To Restore North Bengal’s Wetland Chatra Beel

The Eastern Zone bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a committee to inspect and provide remedial measures to restore the Chatra Beel, a wetland in North Bengal in the district of Malda, that is allegedly being encroached upon due to expansion of the city.The bench of Justice B. Amit Sthalekar (Judicial Member) and Prof. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member) passed an order stating, “In the meantime, we direct the District Magistrate, Malda to ensure that no further encroachment is permitted in the Chatra Beel during the pendency of the present proceedings.”The application was filed alleging that the Chatra Beel, a wetland in North Bengal in the district of Malda, is being encroached upon due to the expansion of the city and population. It is stated that Chatra Beel is a natural wetland and a water purifier for the water of the Northern region of Bengal.The Application highlights that the area of the waterbody was 407 hectares in the year 2005, and as of 2020, the area of the waterbody has shrunk to 196 hectares.The Tribunal considering the matter issued notice to the respondents.Further, NGT constituted a Committee comprising of the Senior Scientist of the West Bengal PCB, Senior Representative of the State Wetland Authority, Government of West Bengal,Senior Representative of the Department of Environment,West Bengal,Senior Representative of the Member Secretary, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department,District Magistrate, Malda or his nominee not below the rank of ADM, and Executive Officer of the English Bazar Municipality.The committee is tasked to inspect the site and submit its report with regard to the alleged encroachments made upon the wetland and suggest remedial measures for restoration of the said waterbody to its original pristine form.The matter will now be taken up on 26th April 2023.Case Title-Subhas Datta v State of West Bengal &Ors.Click Here To Read/Download Order

NGT Forms Committee To Provide Remedial Measure To Restore North Bengal’s Wetland Chatra Beel

Aiman J. Chishti

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