India, June 10 -- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh ground water department to verify allegations of illegal groundwater extraction at multiple construction and project sites in Noida and Greater Noida, and act against violations, if any, within three months.

The direction was issued by the NGT's principal bench while disposing of an application filed by environment activist Vikrant Tongad alleging that private builders, industries and other entities were extracting groundwater illegally in parts of Noida and Greater Noida.

The bench, comprising NGT's chairperson justice (retd.) Prakash Shrivastava, and expert member Dr Afroz Ahmad, noted in its May 27 order that the application cited instances of alleged ...