The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought further details from the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) regarding its demolition plan and action against encroachments on land earmarked for a park in Ghaziabad’s Rajendra Nagar industrial area. The tribunal has asked the development authority to clarify the extent of demolition carried out so far and provide supporting information on the rehabilitation of families living on the disputed land.
The land in question is located off GT Road in the Rajendra Nagar industrial area. According to the proceedings, around 12,040 sq m of land was earmarked for a park under a layout plan approved in 1962 by the then improvement board, which is now the GDA. Over the years, portions of the land designated for the park were used for roads leading to nine industrial units. A residential colony, Babu Jagjivan Ram Colony, also came up on part of the park land.
The colony occupies around 2,864 sq m and comprises 172 dwelling units. A petition concerning the encroachment was filed before the NGT in 2023. Following the proceedings, the GDA issued eviction notices to the residents in July last year. The tribunal had also sought information from the GDA and the district administration regarding the rehabilitation plan for families that could be affected by the proposed action.
A survey conducted by the enforcement wing of the GDA found 172 families residing in the colony along with nine factories occupying or using portions of the park land. The findings of the survey were subsequently placed before the tribunal as part of the proceedings concerning the encroachment.
The NGT’s principal bench, comprising Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad, considered the matter in an order dated September 10. The tribunal noted that the progress report filed by the GDA contained information regarding action taken for the rehabilitation of the 172 families. However, details concerning the removal of encroachment by the nine factories had not been provided.
The GDA has clarified that the nine factories are located outside the park land and that only roads constructed by these factories extended into the designated park area. According to a GDA official, the roads constructed by the nine factories have already been demolished. The official also stated that the enforcement wing’s survey identified 172 families living in the colony and that eviction notices had been served on them.
The issue of rehabilitation remains an important part of the proceedings because removal of the residential encroachment would affect the families living in Babu Jagjivan Ram Colony. Petitioner Suhil Raghav said the GDA had served eviction notices to the residents last year. He further said that the residents obtained a stay from the Allahabad High Court, which he claimed may have halted the GDA’s move to demolish the colony.
The NGT has now directed the GDA to submit an affidavit clarifying its position along with supporting material. The authority has been given four weeks to provide information on the status and extent of demolition carried out so far. The tribunal is expected to examine the material submitted by the development authority during the next stage of the proceedings.
The matter is scheduled to be heard again on December 10. The upcoming hearing is expected to consider the GDA’s response regarding the demolition action, the status of the encroachments and the rehabilitation measures for the affected families.
The dispute relates to land that was originally designated as a public park but was subsequently occupied by residential and industrial-related activities. While the GDA has stated that roads constructed by the nine factories on the park land have been demolished, the tribunal has sought further documentation to establish the action taken and the remaining status of the encroachments.
The latest NGT proceedings do not conclude the wider dispute. Instead, the tribunal has sought additional information from the GDA before the next hearing. The authority’s affidavit will provide details of the action undertaken at the site and its position on the remaining encroachments and rehabilitation of the affected families. The case will continue before the NGT, with the next hearing scheduled for December 10, 2026.
