MOHALI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a stern warning to multiple government bodies and a private developer, summoning senior officials from Gmada, the gram panchayat of Green Enclave Kharar, and the developer group. This comes after their failure to curb the discharge of untreated wastewater that has been pooling for over a year in an open area near Daun Majra village, Kharar.
The case arose when Vijay Kumar Pathania submitted a petition on January 11, 2024, alleging the dumping of sewage from Green Enclave on open land, adversely affecting his nearby residence adjacent to the TDI project. Following the complaint, the tribunal established a joint committee on November 8, 2024. The committee’s findings, submitted on January 10, 2025, confirmed significant amounts of untreated wastewater accumulating on a plot belonging to a private developer, located behind Pathania’s home.
Despite clear evidence and repeated directives, the tribunal observed that no remedial actions have been taken over the past year. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) appeared to focus on lengthy reports instead of taking preventive or punitive measures against the ongoing violations. “No effective steps have been taken for remediation,” the bench stated, highlighting a pattern of systemic negligence.
During the recent proceedings, it was revealed that the affected area falls under the jurisdiction of the gram panchayat, Green Enclave, and not the municipal corporation of Mohali. The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (Gmada) oversees overall development in the region. Notably, the municipal corporation failed to appear before the tribunal, further exposing administrative deficiencies.
In light of the ongoing inaction, the bench mandated that the sarpanch of Green Enclave, the chief administrator of Gmada, and the managing director of the developer group be included as respondents. They have been instructed to submit detailed responses within three weeks, outlining the actions taken thus far and future plans for environmental remediation.
The tribunal has also directed the District Magistrate (DM) of Mohali to ensure that notices are served to the sarpanch and the developer. Given the seriousness of the situation, the NGT has ordered the personal appearance of the relevant officials, including the PPCB’s regional officer, at the next hearing scheduled for December 8.
