India, Feb. 3 -- Taking a serious note of encroachments on 50 ponds in Gautam Budh Nagar district, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a detailed affidavit disclosing original area of these water bodies, extent of encroachment, and names of encroachers.

The directions made on January 19 came from a principal bench headed by chairperson justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel while hearing a plea about destruction and damage of wetlands and water bodies in Gautam Budh Nagar and steps taken for their rejuvenation and restoration.

During the hearing, the Greater Noida authority (GNIDA) had submitted a status report on January 16, informing that 281 ponds fall within its ju...