New Delhi

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of the drowning death of a software engineer in a waterlogged trench in Noida’s Sector 150, flagging prolonged administrative inaction and possible environmental violations.

A bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava registered an Original Application based on a media report detailing the death of Yuvraj Mehta, who reportedly fell into a water-filled trench at a commercial site amid foggy conditions. The Tribunal noted that the land, originally allotted for a private mall, had turned into a pond over nearly a decade due to unchecked rainwater and wastewater accumulation.

The NGT observed that despite a stormwater management plan being prepared in 2015 and funds released in 2016, key infrastructure to divert excess water into the Hindon river was never executed, resulting in persistent waterlogging and safety hazards.

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Taking a prima facie view of violations under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Tribunal impleaded the Noida Authority and other state agencies, directing them to file affidavits ahead of the next hearing.