The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has served notices to the Centre, Uttar Pradesh government, and various authorities regarding alleged extensive environmental harm in the Sai Upwan city forest in Ghaziabad. Nearly 70,000 trees are reported to have been destroyed due to prolonged waste dumping and sewage inundation. The NGT, led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr. Afroz Ahmad, directed the concerned parties to respond with affidavits before the next hearing on July 2.
The notices were sent to entities such as the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Uttar Pradesh government, Central Pollution Control Board, and others. The NGT, in response to an application by petitioner Rajendra Tyagi, focused on issues related to solid and liquid waste management in the forest area. The plea highlighted concerns about illegal waste disposal and burning, as well as untreated sewage discharge into the forest’s stormwater drain.
The application also pointed out that the environmental degradation has led to the drying up of around 70,000 trees in the Sai Upwan area. The NGT’s order on March 19 instructed the applicant to serve copies of the application to all respondents and allowed for the raising of additional issues through a separate application. Sai Upwan, spanning approximately 200 acres, is a significant city forest in Ghaziabad, crucial for maintaining air quality in a highly polluted urban setting.
