NGT Dismisses Sagar Paper Mills’ Appeal After CGWA Withdraws Erroneous Groundwater Demand
Pranav B Prem
The National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi, has dismissed an appeal filed by Sagar Paper Mills Pvt. Ltd. challenging a monetary demand raised by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), after the Authority withdrew the impugned order on account of an admitted calculation error and issued a fresh demand. The Bench comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, and Dr. A. Senthil Vel, Expert Member, held that in view of the subsequent development, nothing survived for adjudication in the appeal.
The appeal was preferred under Section 16(g) of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 read with Section 5A of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, assailing an order dated 19 March 2025 passed by the CGWA, whereby a financial liability had been imposed on the appellant in relation to groundwater extraction. During the course of hearing, counsel appearing for the CGWA drew the attention of the Tribunal to the reply filed by the Authority, submitting that the earlier demand had been raised due to an incorrect calculation.
It was informed that the impugned order dated 19 March 2025 had since been withdrawn and a fresh order reflecting the correct computation had been issued. According to the CGWA, a revised demand amounting to ₹68,04,274 was communicated to the appellant through email on 5 August 2025, thereby superseding the earlier demand.
Taking note of this submission, the Tribunal observed that since the original order under challenge had been withdrawn and replaced by a subsequent demand, the impugned order no longer survived. The Bench held that, in such circumstances, there remained nothing to be adjudicated in the appeal and accordingly dismissed the same as infructuous.
However, while disposing of the appeal, the Tribunal granted liberty to Sagar Paper Mills Pvt. Ltd. to challenge the revised demand in accordance with law before the appropriate forum. The Tribunal also recorded the fair submission made on behalf of the CGWA that if such a challenge is filed within four weeks from the date of the order, the issue of limitation would not be raised against the appellant.
Cause Title: Sagar Paper Mills Pvt. Ltd. v. Central Ground Water Authority of India
Case No: Appeal No. 36/2025 (IA No. 333/2025)
Coram: Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, and Dr. A. Senthil Vel, Expert Member
