The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has demanded a response from both state and central environmental agencies—namely the Uttarakhand government, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB), and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)—by 19th September. The directive stems from concerns over a May 13 amendment to the Doon Valley Notification, which may have weakened important ecological safeguards.
The original 1989 notification, declared Doon Valley an ecologically sensitive zone, requiring any land use, tourism, or grazing plans to be approved by MoEFCC. However, the recent amendment transfers this authority entirely to the state government, potentially removing central oversight.
A petition by the Dev Bhoomi Manav Sansadhan Vikas Samiti has challenged the amendment, stating that it defies both the intent of the 1989 notification and a 2023 Uttarakhand High Court ruling, which had reaffirmed the need for MoEFCC’s approval in such matters.
In its August 5 order, the NGT issued notices calling for explanations from the state and central agencies. The tribunal highlighted that removing environmental oversight creates a risk of unchecked industrial and developmental activity in a region of high ecological sensitivity. The concerned authorities are now required to submit their written responses addressing these concerns by 19th September.
