NGT Directs UP to Submit Full Report on Ganga Pollution Within Two Weeks

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government to submit a comprehensive report detailing the state’s efforts to control pollution in the Ganga River. The tribunal, in an order issued on May 2, emphasized the need for district-wise details on the discharge of untreated sewage into the river and its tributaries. This move follows the NGT’s previous directive to the UP authorities to ensure that no untreated sewage flows into the Ganga or its tributaries from untapped drains. The court observed that while the state’s environment secretary had submitted a report on April 30, it was found to be incomplete. The report failed to include essential details regarding the status of drains flowing into the Ganga, the quantity of effluent diverted to sewage treatment plants (STPs), and whether untapped drains had been included in the proposal for diversion to STPs. Additionally, the report lacked specific timelines for the tapping of drains and the identification of responsible officials for the work.

The NGT bench, comprising Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal, and Expert Member A Senthil Vel, expressed concerns over the incomplete data provided for several districts, including Sonbhadra, Mau, Bhadohi, Jaunpur, Azamgarh, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Khushinagar, Maharajganj, and Prayagraj. The bench also pointed out that the report did not outline specific dates for completing the tapping of drains or disclose the volume of untreated sewage expected to be diverted to STPs. In light of these deficiencies, the additional advocate general representing the state sought more time to provide the missing details. The tribunal granted two weeks to the state authorities to submit the complete information, with the next hearing scheduled for May 29.

This order is part of the ongoing efforts to clean the Ganga River under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). The tribunal has repeatedly stressed the importance of timely action to ensure that untreated sewage is diverted from flowing into the river to prevent further environmental damage. The UP government now faces the task of providing a detailed report to the NGT, which will play a key role in holding the authorities accountable for their actions.

As the NGT awaits the comprehensive details from UP, it remains to be seen whether the state will meet the deadline and present a viable plan for tackling pollution in the Ganga. With the next hearing scheduled for later this month, the case highlights the ongoing challenge of managing and cleaning one of the most important rivers in India.

Source: PTI