The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) took suo motu cognisance of serious allegations relating to encroachment and pollution of the Sonadubbi River in Ranchi district, Jharkhand. Considering that the cause of action arose within the territorial jurisdiction of Jharkhand, the Tribunal directed the Registry to list the matter before the Eastern Zone Bench of the NGT at Kolkata on February 25 for further hearing.The case was registered as Original Application (OA-46/2026), Manoj Kumar vs State of Jharkhand and others, on the basis of a complaint submitted by RTI activist Manoj Kumar on July 17 last year through the Public Grievances Portal. The principal bench, comprising Judicial Member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Afroz Ahmad, heard the matter on February 5, in which the complainant appeared through video conferencing and informed that M/s Monet Daniel Coal Washery Private Limited (MDCWL), KDH Dakra, through its General Manager and Chairman, illegally encroached upon the Sonadubbi River, erected 12 illegal pillars within the riverbed, and discharged chemical-laden coal waste into the river.
According to the complaint, the Sonadubbi River is a tributary of the Damodar River and is a vital water source for thousands of villagers from 3–4 villages in the Khalari area. It is alleged that, despite orders issued by the Circle Officer, Khalari, and directions of the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate, Ranchi, the encroachments were not removed due to a subsequent stay order, resulting in continued degradation of the river.Kumar informed the bench that the Circle Officer, Khalari ordered the General Manager of MDCWL to demolish and remove the 12 illegal pillars and encroachments from the riverbed through a notice dated October 21, 2022, but despite this, the encroachments were not removed. Later, the DC-cum-DM, Ranchi also issued a letter numbered 810 dated June 12, 2023, ordering the company to remove the encroachments, but within 2 months, he stayed his own order.The Tribunal noted that although the applicant appeared through video conferencing, supporting documents were not placed on record. The bench directed the Registry to verify whether the material was received through email and to place it on record accordingly.Considering that the cause of action arose within the territorial jurisdiction of Jharkhand, the Tribunal held that the matter should be heard by the Eastern Zone Bench of the NGT at Kolkata and directed the Registry to list the matter before the Kolkata bench on February 25.Earlier, the Jharkhand High Court also took suo motu cognisance in the matter and registered a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) (5787 of 2026) on January 5, directing the DC Ranchi to decide the Encroachment Appeal Case No 40R15/23-24 as expeditiously as possible, latest by March 31, and submit a report.A Division bench comprising Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad noted that the Circle Officer, Khalari passed an order for removal of encroachment on July 12, 2023, in Encroachment Case No 01/2022-23, but the same was challenged by the washery company before the Deputy Commissioner, Ranchi, which was registered as Encroachment Appeal Case No 40R15/23-24, and the DC, on September 29, 2023, stayed the previous order.
