HC directs removal of encroachments from Gomti riverbed

Lucknow: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has directed the tehsildar concerned to ensure removal of illegal encroachments from the Gomti riverbed while hearing in a petition alleging unlawful occupation of land by Neelansh Group.

The court also issued notices to the Neelansh Group and directed it to file counter affidavit by July 7.

A bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Jaspreet Singh passed the order on a PIL petition filed by one Deepak Shukla in 2024.

The court observed that despite admission of illegal encroachment in the river area, proceedings were being delayed.

The bench directed the tehsildar to complete pending proceedings.

The petitioner alleged that the Neelansh group had illegally occupied and commercially exploited portions of Gomti riverbed in Badaiya and Tikri Kalan villages.

He said that the Malihabad SDM had passed an order on Jan 20, 2020, directing removal of the encroachment, but the order had not been executed.

The state govt informed the court that proceedings under Section 67 of the UP Revenue Code regarding the land were pending.