LUCKNOW, Jan. 23 -- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi on Thursday took suo motu cognizance of the death of a software engineer, Yuvraj Mehta, who drowned in a waterlogged trench in Noida and issued notices to several departments of the state government, including district magistrate of Noida, and principal secretary (environment) of the state government. The principal bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel, passed the order after taking note of news reports indicating alleged lapses in stormwater management and prolonged waterlogging that led to the tragedy in wee hours of January 17. The bench impleaded Noida Authority, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, irrigation department, principal secretary (environment) of the state government and district magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar. It directed them (respondents) to submit their replies at least one week prior to the next hearing scheduled on April 10, 2026. The Tribunal took note of the incident on the basis of media reports, which pointed out that the land had turned into a stagnant water pond over the past decade due to accumulated rainwater and wastewater from nearby housing societies. Delays in implementing the stormwater management plan proposed by the irrigation department in 2015, including installation of a head regulator, contributed to severe waterlogging leading to formation of a pond. The land where the person died was initially allotted for a private mall project, but had turned into a pond as rainwater and wastewater discharged from nearby housing societies were allowed to accumulate in it for a decade. The bench also noted that the stormwater management plan chalked out by the UP irrigation department in 2015 remained on paper despite multiple rounds of surveys and site inspections. "News reports indicate lapses by Noida Authority in taking up remedial measures, resulting in the death of the person. The matter indicates a violation of the Environment (Protection) Act, and the news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance with environmental norms," the tribunal added. Yuvraj Mehta's drive back home turned fatal late on January 16, when his car fell into a water-filled pit in Sector 150....