On February 17–18, 2026, the National Green Tribunal passed key interim orders halting river desilting in Punjab, seeking compliance verification in a road project, and directing reports on a Delhi pond encroachment case.

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• NGT stayed desilting of rivers across multiple Punjab drainage divisions until further orders, citing need for environmental clearances before commercial excavation activities.
• Auction notice issued October 17, 2025 for desilting at critical river sites challenged for allegedly bypassing mandatory environmental approvals.
• Tribunal issued notices to Punjab Mining Department, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Pollution Control Boards and other authorities.
• Applicant cited earlier tribunal ruling declaring commercial desilting without environmental clearance illegal under established legal precedent.
• In Sirhind-Patiala four-laning project, NGT granted MoEFCC time to verify compliance with Stage-I forest clearance conditions.
• Allegations include large-scale tree cutting and non-compliance with approved compensatory afforestation and layout plan conditions.
• MoEFCC affidavit stated final forest approval granted January 18, 2024 after reviewing state compliance reports.
• In Delhi case, NGT directed MCD and DPCC to submit reports within six weeks on Savitri Nagar pond encroachment removal steps.