'Lapses By Authorities Led To Death': NGT Takes Suo Motu Cognisance Of Noida Techie's Death

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of the death of a 27-year-old tech professional who drowned in a waterlogged trench in Noida and issued notice to various authorities including

Noida administrative authority, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board and district magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar.

According to LiveLaw, a Bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava as chairperson, with A Senthil Vel, expert member, recorded that a storm water management plan prepared by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department in 2015 remained unimplemented despite multiple surveys and site inspections.

A 27-year-old software professional, Yuvraj Mehta, plunged into a flooded pit, on Friday midnight, dug up for a project in Noida Sector 150. Mehta, who did not know swimming, fought for his life for almost two hours. He got out from his car, climbed onto its roof and even called his father and friend.

While the police and his father Raj Kumar Mehta, arrived at the scene within minutes, the dense fog made it impossible to spot him. While the officials could hear his voice, they couldn’t see him.

“They only had ropes which couldn’t reach Yuvraj. The road was made because of the prior accident of the truck. If not for that, the vehicle would not have met with the accident. No remedial measures were taken,” alleged his father.

The documents assessed by the NGT Bench showed that the Irrigation Department had proposed a head regulator to divert excess water into the Hindon river and had received Rs 13.05 lakh from the Noida Authority in 2016 for survey and design preparation. However, the delays in executing remedial measures led to severe waterlogging in the area which also caused flooding in the basements of several nearby housing societies during rainy seasons.

The NGT noted that without a controlled outlet, water stagnated, increasing the risk of backflow. “… indicates lapse by the Noida Authority in taking up remedial measures which resulted in the death of the person,” the Tribunal observed.

LiveLaw quoted the Bench stating that the matter prima facie indicates a violation of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and raises substantial issues concerning compliance with environmental norms and the implementation of scheduled enactments.

The NGT issued notice to Noida Authority, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Irrigation Department, Principal Secretary of Environment department and Gautam Budh Nagar District Magistrate.

The respondents have been ordered to respond by way of affidavits at least one week before the next date of hearing, April 10.

Meanwhile, an investigation in underway into the death of the tech professional.

The Noida Authority has initiated departmental action following the death of the engineer. Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M ordered an investigation on the day of the incident and took action after the probe was completed.

As part of the action, Junior Engineer Naveen Kumar, posted in the Traffic Cell of the Noida Authority, has been suspended. Show-cause notices have also been issued to officials and staff responsible for monitoring and supervision of Sector 150.

The investigation found that the accident occurred due to the absence of reflector signs at the site. The CEO has also sought complete details of the builder’s allotment and construction work from the Planning Department, Group Housing Department, Building Cell and Plot Department.