The National Green Tribunal’s Central Zone Bench in Bhopal has issued directives for safeguarding the Hingonia Dam area in Rajasthan and eliminating illegal encroachments. The tribunal, presided over by Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, addressed concerns raised in Application No. 07/2025 (CZ) by Kamlesh Roj against the State of Rajasthan & Others. The State of Rajasthan and the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) informed the tribunal about additional action-taken reports submitted to the Bench.
The applicant expressed worries about alleged discrepancies in the total area of Hingonia Dam as per the reports submitted by authorities. Respondents’ counsel mentioned that the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) had already provided relevant details about the dam area. The applicant also filed Interim Application No. 30/2026 seeking interim relief and Interim Application No. 72/2026 regarding the Wetland Conservation and Management Rules, 2017.
The NGT specified that wetlands exceeding 2.25 hectares would be governed by previous directions from the Supreme Court. Instructing the District Collector and JDA to remove illegal encroachments at Hingonia Dam, the tribunal emphasized following due legal procedures. It directed the Rajasthan Water Resources Department to oversee the dam area and take necessary actions against encroachments, ensuring the department’s custody, supervision, and protection over the entire area.
The department was further instructed to submit an affidavit detailing the actions taken if any encroachments are found, before the next hearing scheduled for July 2, 2026. This order is crucial for environmental protection, water body preservation, and combating encroachments in ecologically sensitive zones. The case highlights concerns about diminishing wetland areas and the strain on natural water resources due to urban expansion and unauthorized occupancy.
