Malda Wetland: NGT Forms Committee To Provide Corrective Measures To Restore Shrinking

The National Green Tribunal’s Eastern Zone recently formed a six-member committee to monitor the Chatra Beel, a wetland in Malda district in north Bengal.

A bench comprised of Justice B.Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Prof. A. Senthil Vel (expert member) was hearing a plea filed by Subhas Datta stating that the Chatra Beel is being encroached upon due to the expansion of the city of Malda, and the town of Malda because of the expansion of the population, and that deliberate encroachments are being permitted in the Chatra Beel, which is being converted into the land.

In his plea, Satta mentioned that, “Chatra Beel is a natural wetland and a natural water purifier for the water of the northern region of Bengal.”

Furthermore, the application stated that the waterbody’s area in 2005 was 407 hectares, but by 2020, it had shrunk to 196 hectares.

Following the hearing of the petition, the tribunal formed a committee comprised of the Senior Scientist of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board, the Senior Representative of the State Wetland Authority, the Government of West Bengal, the Senior Representative of the Department of Environment, the Senior Representative of the Member Secretary, the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department, the District Magistrate of Malda or his nominee not below the rank of Additional District Magistrate, and the District Magistrate of Malda or his nominee not below the rank of Additional

The bench directed that the newly formed committee visit the Chatra Beel, inspect the site, and submit its report on the encroachments, as well as suggest remedial measures for the restoration of the said waterbody to its original pristine form, as well as prevent further encroachment into the water body.

It also ordered the District Magistrate of Malda to ensure that no further encroachment occurs in Chatra Beel while the current proceedings are ongoing.

Because the matter involved wetlands, the tribunal determined that the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) was a necessary party in the current proceedings and directed Adv. Rashmi Singhee to accept notice on the Ministry’s behalf.

The bench then listed the matter for further consideration on April 26, 2023.