January 06, 2026 : 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, after the Authority withdrew the impugned order due to an admitted calculation error and issued a revised demand.
The appeal, registered as Appeal No. 36/2025 (IA No. 333/2025), was heard by a Bench comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, and Dr. A. Senthil Vel, Expert Member. It was filed under Section 16(g) of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 read with Section 5A of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, assailing a CGWA order dated 19 March 2025 that imposed a financial liability on the appellant in relation to groundwater extraction.
During the hearing, counsel for the CGWA informed the Tribunal that the original demand had been raised due to an incorrect calculation. It was submitted that the impugned order dated 19 March 2025 had since been withdrawn and superseded by a fresh order, issued by email on 5 August 2025, revising the demand to ₹68,04,274.
Taking note of this subsequent development, the Tribunal observed that the original order under challenge no longer survived for consideration. Since the very basis of the appeal had ceased to exist, the Bench held that nothing remained to be adjudicated and dismissed the appeal as infructuous.
While disposing of the matter, the Tribunal granted liberty to Sagar Paper Mills Pvt. Ltd. to challenge the revised demand in accordance with law before the appropriate forum. It 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 Tribunal’s 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)
Date of Decision: 6 January 2026
