Ghaziabad to Start Eviction Drive in Illegal Colonies Along Hindon River

GHAZIABAD, June 8: The Ghaziabad administration is set to launch a major eviction drive along the Hindon river. District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar has directed officials to identify and remove all illegal encroachments on riverbed land, following a state report to the National Green Tribunal highlighting severe pollution from unauthorised colonies.

The directions were issued at a meeting with officials from the Loni SDM's office, irrigation department, Ghaziabad Development Authority, and municipal bodies. Teams have been instructed to cross-reference revenue records, irrigation data, and maps against ground conditions to pinpoint illegal occupations.

What the UP Government Told NGT

In an affidavit filed on April 28, UP Chief Secretary Shashi Prakash Goyal informed the NGT that 888 unauthorised colonies across six districts discharge untreated sewage into the Hindon river. Of these, nearly 30% – approximately 258 colonies – are located in Ghaziabad alone.

These colonies collectively discharge nearly 40 million litres of sewage daily into the river. The affidavit also flagged 51 open storm drains in the basin carrying an estimated 1,067 MLD of water, sludge, industrial discharge, and sewage into the river and its tributaries.

The colonies house a population of over 3.8 lakh people. They lack planned drainage infrastructure, allowing most sewage to flow directly into open or stormwater drains before reaching the river.

Most Heavily Encroached Stretches

Officials have consistently identified Karhera, Ator-Nagla, and Kanawani as among the most heavily encroached stretches of the Hindon floodplain in the district. However, enforcement has so far been piecemeal. Any large-scale anti-encroachment drive along the riverbank awaits completion of floodplain demarcation.

Zero Tolerance for Riverbank Constructions

"No form of illegal construction or encroachment in river areas will be tolerated," Mandar said. He emphasized that obstructing the natural flow of rivers increases the possibility of economic losses and danger to residents during monsoon-related disasters.

Clearing encroachments from river areas is among the government's priorities, the DM said, adding that unimpeded river flow was essential to containing flood risk ahead of monsoon.

Special Campaign for River Rejuvenation

Mandar also ordered a special campaign for environmental conservation and rejuvenation of both the Yamuna and Hindon rivers, calling them crucial to the region's ecological balance. Officials have been directed to submit regular progress reports to the district administration.

The Bottom Line

With monsoon approaching and the NGT taking note of the pollution crisis, Ghaziabad authorities are finally moving against illegal colonies that have长期discharged sewage into the Hindon. The coming weeks will determine whether the administration can translate its directives into actual ground action.