DK Joshi shared this information with Samiksha Bharti News Service, after the NGT issued notices to the divisional commissioner of Agra, the vice chairman of the Agra Development Authority, the municipal commissioner of Agra and the MD UP Jal Nigam, to explain how NOCs were issued to builders to raise multi-storeyed buildings on the Yamuna flood plains, in blatant violation of the High Court orders restricting construction activity within 500 metres of the river. The ADA had identified 59 buildings on the flood-plains in 2013 but no action was taken to demolish them, Joshi said.

In his 200 page PIL complete with photographs, annexures and court orders, Joshi has prayed for immediate orders to clear the flood plains to ensure safety of life and to save the river. The fear generated by recent earthquake has also to be taken note of, Joshi said. The NGT issued the notices Thursday evening.

Replies to the notices issues by the NGT have to be filed by May 26, the next date of hearing. Meanwhile, the four officials have been directed to conduct on the spot surveys and studies to file their answers.

Joshi, who has made 14 government departments as party to the petition, has also raised the issue of garbage dumping on the river bed, along the river banks. Municipal laws restrict dumping of hazardous substances in the river. Joshi said the river bed was usurped by colonisers in Mau, Jaganpur, Khaspur, Dayal Bagh, Sikandrapur, Poiya Ghat, Ghatwasan, Naraich. He said no EIA (environment impact assessment) hearings had been held.

He has asked the NGT to give clear cut orders for demolition of all illegal structures on the flood plains and issue guidelines for future construction activity along the river front.