The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a cost of Rs 5,000 each on Lucknow Nagar Nigam, Lucknow Development Authority and District Magistrate, Lucknow for not representing before the Tribunal.
The Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Dr A. Senthil Vel was considering the issue of groundwater depletion in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
On 24.05.2024, the respondents were impleaded and notices were issued by the Tribunal. Response by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) was filed on 02.09.2024.
Counsel for Respondent No. 6, Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) and Respondent No. 2, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) seek four weeks’ time to file the reply.
“In spite of service of notice, Respondent No. 3, Lucknow Nagar Nigam, Respondent No. 4, Lucknow Development Authority and Respondent No. 5, District Magistrate, Lucknow are not represented today. Hence, the cost of Rs 5,000 each is imposed upon them for not appearing before the Tribunal and not rendering assistance in the matter. Let the cost be deposited within two weeks with the Registrar General of the Tribunal.”
It will be open to all other respondents also to file their response within the same period by way of affidavit, the NGT directed and listed the matter on 20.12.2024 for further hearing.