Bhopal
Justice Sudhir Agrawal, who headed the central bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Madhya Pradesh, has been transferred to the principal bench in Delhi. This decision comes after Justice Agrawal raised concerns about the Madhya Pradesh government’s lack of action regarding encroachments around the Kaliyasot and Kerwa dam sites in Bhopal. The NGT had recently expressed strong dissatisfaction with the state government’s inaction and imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the government. The tribunal observed that there seemed to be a lack of coordination among the concerned departments in addressing the issue of encroachments. In 2014, the NGT had issued an order to remove illegal construction within a 33.3-meter perimeter of the river bed. However, compliance with this order has been lacking, leading to ongoing encroachments along the Kaliyasot and Kerwa dam sites. The NGT’s recent order for the demarcation of illegal constructions has raised concerns about its impact on around 40,000 to 50,000 people and nearly 30 residential colonies in the Kolar satellite township. This transfer of Justice Agrawal has sparked a political controversy in Madhya Pradesh, with opposition leaders questioning the state government’s response to the issue of encroachments and its handling of the NGT’s orders.
