Green tribunal wants Yamuna orders implemented on priority

The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday warned states Government and public authorities of invoking its “punitive or contempt jurisdiction” for not following its orders saying its plan on revitalisation of Yamuna needs to move on priority basis and not at the “mercy of whims and fancies”.

“Without hesitation, any further violation and non compliance of the orders will be taken seriously. A project envisaged to be completed by 2017 needs to move on priority basis not at the mercy of whims and fancies of some,” a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.

The green court said it had tried its best and invoked “highest hierarchy of the state to ensure compliance of directions to restore river Yamuna to its original state”.

“Before we travel to the realms of issuing punitive orders to officials concerned we would grant final opportunity with the following direction that the state Government concerned would not force us to dwell upon the punitive or contempt jurisdiction of the tribunal,” the court said.