File Photo: A rag-picker inspects the waste in the Yamuna river. (Press Trust of India)
National Green Tribunal has issued notices to 15 builders and sought their response on alleged construction of multi-storeyed buildings on Yamuna flood plains.
The builders have been asked to file affidavits by July 28 with required permissions and NOCs from various agencies.
Agra Development Authority had identified the builders for allegedly constructing multi-storeyed buildings on the flood plains.
The directions come on a petition filed by environmentalist DK Joshi.
State government agencies including the irrigation department, Jal Nigam, the ADA have been asked to mark the flood plains and identify areas which have been encroached upon, according to Rahul Choudhary, the petitioner's lawyer.
The illegal buildings and encroachments extend from Agra to Vrindavan on the flood plains of Yamuna.
Activists say that the government bodies have been dragging their feet on stopping or demolishing illegal structures.