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NEW DELHI, Mar 3: National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Delhi government and DDA over reported disappearance of water bodies in Delhi due to alleged unplanned growth and negligence by authorities, officials said on Thursday.
The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report on the issue, which it said was "a matter of concern," they said.
"Notices have been issued to the chief secretary, government of NCT of Delhi and the Vice-Chairman, Delhi Development Authority, calling for a detailed report in the matter within six weeks," the NHRC said in a statement.
There are laws and guidelines to safeguard such vital components of environment. The alleged negligence by the authorities tantamount to "violation of human rights", as the water bodies and wetlands are a vital part of the hydrological cycle, which supports rich biodiversity and provides a wide range of ecosystem services such as water storage, water purification, flood control, erosion control and microclimate regulation etc. It also helps mitigate urban floods, the NHRC added.
The Commission has also noted that on April 23, 2019, Wetland Authority was constituted under the chairpersonship of the chief secretary, in Delhi for conservation and management of wetlands.
According to the media report, carried Thursday on March 3, 2022, these waterbodies, which play a major role in maintaining ecological balance in the region have either been "encroached upon, concretised, or polluted with sewage," the statement said.
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