NOIDA: Contradictory statements have surfaced from the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and Noida Authority in two separate affidavits filed with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding a plea for action against builders for illegal groundwater extraction in Greater Noida. The case is set for hearing on Tuesday.
In an affidavit dated January 23, UPPCB referenced a letter from the Greater Noida Authority imposing a penalty of 1% of the project cost on 22 builders. Conversely, Noida Authority’s affidavit from January 24 stated that 13 of the builders purchased 3.80 lakh KL of STP-treated water worth Rs 19 lakh for various construction projects between 2013 and 2023.
The Noida Authority did not address the water sourcing of the remaining nine builders. If this information is verified, the 13 builders may avoid penalties.
The case arises from an original application filed by Prasoon Pant and Pradeep Kumar in 2022, seeking action against 63 real estate companies for illegally extracting and utilizing groundwater for construction in the Greater Noida region.
In its report on April 28 last year, the tribunal’s joint committee noted that out of 63 projects assessed, 22 were found not to have used groundwater.
The tribunal decided to confirm water usage sources with UPPCB and the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA), also involving Noida at the applicant’s request on July 29, 2025.
On October 30, the tribunal observed that 10 project proponents among the 22 in question had responded regarding their water procurement. It ordered the authorities to obtain responses from the remaining builders and verify their claims. In its affidavit, Noida has now identified 13 builders and their 80 projects that purchased STP-treated water from the authority between 2013 and 2023. GNIDA has not provided any updates.
