Order of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of Indian Institute of Bio-Social Research & Development (IBRAD) Vs Union of India & Others dated 13/08/2021.

The allegation of the applicant is that adjacent to his property there is a wetland/waterbody - which has not been notified as a wetland but it is a substantial waterbody. The Irrigation Department, West Bengal had constructed a pump house between January-February 2020 by opening a part of the fencing but had failed to restore the fencing over the wetland/waterbody with the result the said waterbody has been severely encroached upon and there is a litter of plastic bags, domestic wastes and other solid wastes thrown into the water body.

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The NGT directed the constitution of a committee to look into the matter and submit a report, which would also include the environmental compensation assessed, the remedial measures to restore the area and time line for removal of encroachments and also penalty being imposed on the encroachers for illegally occupying the said area.