NGT Orders Restoration of Suav River’s Status in Uttar Pradesh

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to correct official records and restore the Suav’s classification from a “drain” to a “river” in revenue records and gazetteers.

The order came after a petition challenged the classification of the Suav—a major tributary of the Rapti River in Balrampur district—as a nullah (drain). Petitioners cited the 1906 publication Gonda: A Gazetteer, which described the Suav (then called Suwawan) as an important tributary of the Rapti. The Gazetteer recorded that, besides seasonal channels, only two significant tributaries joined the Rapti: the Burhi Rapti on the northern bank and the Suav on the southern bank. (Source: DTE)

Tribunal’s Directions

• The Tribunal warned that failure to comply would amount to an offence under Section 26 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
• The order is executable as a civil court decree under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, allowing enforcement measures such as arrest and detention of judgment debtors in accordance with the law.
• NGT decisions are binding on concerned authorities.

About the NGT

The NGT was established on 18 October 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 for effective and speedy disposal of environmental cases.

• It aims to dispose of applications within 6 months.
• Principal bench: New Delhi; Other benches: Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai.
• Under Section 19, the Tribunal can regulate its own procedure and is guided by natural justice, though it has civil court powers for enforcement.

Appeals

Decisions of the NGT can be appealed in the Supreme Court of India within 90 days under Section 22 of the NGT Act, on substantial questions of law. High Courts may also review orders under Article 226 of the Constitution. (Source: NGT)