The Times of India: Noida: Friday, March 23, 2012.
GREATER NOIDA (DADRI): Even as the Union environment ministry is investigating the sale of Bil Akbarpur wetland in Dadri, another controversy has cropped up. The number of wetlands in Gautam Budh Nagar district have shrunk from 19 to just six in the last two years. Replies to two different RTI applications have revealed this fact.
A reply to an RTI application filed in 2009 with the district forest department revealed that 19 wetlands existed. But when another environmentalist filed an RTI in 2011, the district forest department informed that only six wetlands existed. This has happened despite the fact that, in July 2009, the then UP chief secretary following the directions of Supreme Court had written to all district magistrates to identify and implement policies to ensure conservation of wetlands.
In 2009, environmentalist Anand Arya had filed the RTI with the district forest department and was informed in July that there were 19 identified wetlands in the district, including Bil Akbarpur, the richest wetland spread over four hectares. In September last year, when environmentalist Vikrant Tongad filed another RTI seeking the same information, he was shocked to learn that only six wetlands were left in the district, including three in Dadri and two in Jewar.
The forest department, in the second RTI, informed the environmentalist that it neither had any map or record of Bil Akbarpur wetland despite the fact that before 2009 the administration had itself claimed Bil Akbarpur to be one of the richest wetlands in the district.
Ironically, the district administration has no satisfactory answer as to how within a span of two years the number of wetlands has shrunk from 19 to six. Environmentalists, however, have alleged that the sole intention of the authorities were sale of the rich wetlands to private players, violating the environmental laws. "A survey was conducted and reports by members of the district environment committee were submitted. Based on the reports of the members, only six wetlands were identified while the others were rejected, including Bil Akbarpur," said an official.
In April 2009, following the direction of Supreme Court, the then Uttar Pradesh chief secretary had written a letter to all district magistrates asking them to identified wetlands in their respective areas and implement policies to ensure their conservation.
A reply to an RTI application filed in 2009 with the district forest department revealed that 19 wetlands existed. But when another environmentalist filed an RTI in 2011, the district forest department informed that only six wetlands existed. This has happened despite the fact that, in July 2009, the then UP chief secretary following the directions of Supreme Court had written to all district magistrates to identify and implement policies to ensure conservation of wetlands.
In 2009, environmentalist Anand Arya had filed the RTI with the district forest department and was informed in July that there were 19 identified wetlands in the district, including Bil Akbarpur, the richest wetland spread over four hectares. In September last year, when environmentalist Vikrant Tongad filed another RTI seeking the same information, he was shocked to learn that only six wetlands were left in the district, including three in Dadri and two in Jewar.
The forest department, in the second RTI, informed the environmentalist that it neither had any map or record of Bil Akbarpur wetland despite the fact that before 2009 the administration had itself claimed Bil Akbarpur to be one of the richest wetlands in the district.
Ironically, the district administration has no satisfactory answer as to how within a span of two years the number of wetlands has shrunk from 19 to six. Environmentalists, however, have alleged that the sole intention of the authorities were sale of the rich wetlands to private players, violating the environmental laws. "A survey was conducted and reports by members of the district environment committee were submitted. Based on the reports of the members, only six wetlands were identified while the others were rejected, including Bil Akbarpur," said an official.
In April 2009, following the direction of Supreme Court, the then Uttar Pradesh chief secretary had written a letter to all district magistrates asking them to identified wetlands in their respective areas and implement policies to ensure their conservation.
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