NGT expresses concern over sewage discharge into Ganga ahead of Maha Kumbh Mela.
National Green Tribunal has very loudly raised its voice for unchecked discharge of untreated sewage particularly into Ganga from Rasulabad to Sangam-its an eight-kilometer stretch in Prayagraj on the eve of this city gearing up for a 40-day Maha Kumbh Mela scheduled to be set by January 14 with the snan on Makar Sankranti expected to pull in millions of devotees from all across the world.
It was given a plea stating that 50 sewers in Prayagraj permit the untreated sewage to flow into the river. Unsatisfied with the speed of the proceeding, the tribunal on November 29 heard the matter and directed that as it had constituted earlier the HPC to examine the situation and to present report before November 23 through Chief Secretary Uttar Pradesh. However, no such report was filed by it on time and, the tribunal expressed its apprehensions. Increasing Health Risks to Pilgrims
The untreated sewage released into the Ganga, according to the NGT, constitutes a serious health threat for millions of pilgrims who are supposed to visit Kumbh Mela.
The tribunal noted that, if nothing effective is done to put an end to this pollution before the commensurating fair takes place, then the health and well-being of crores of devotees would be seriously affected. The HPC not taking the point this issue calls for very serious concern in the tribunal.
It also commented that the state counsel could plead that the report is ready and pending signature but still, no acceptable explanation for the delay in filing has been furnished. The NGT stated that even if there be an accepted typographical error in the communication, the nonactionability by the HPC itself by November 7 after the September order of the tribunal more than two months thereafter is utterly unacceptable.
In response, the tribunal provided a one week time relaxation for submitting a report with an argument that else it had directed the personal presence of principal secretary of state environment department in case. However NGT was not ready for that due to the assurance provided by State counsel that he would put up all measures without much delay.
Environmental Impact and Plans for Kumbh Mela
The report had been filed by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, which had declared that the water quality in this stretch of Ganga has declined and is not even potable for “achman.” It mentioned that because of the forthcoming Kumbh Mela, this problem of pollution in Ganga is time-bound, so focussing on the imperative necessity to take measures to prevent untreated sewage from entering the river.
Justice Prakash Shrivastava, chairman of NGT, and other members of the bench said that HPC had not fulfilled the directive issued by the tribunal and did not even request extension of time. The tribunal was disappointed by this because the urgency was not visible, and the matter could no longer be delayed, especially when Kumbh Mela is near.
Conclusion:Future Events and Actions Subsequently Taken The tribunal had explicitly made it clear that it would watch the situation closely so that measures to prevent pollution would be undertaken even before the commencement of Maha Kumbh Mela. Further hearings in the case are scheduled on December 9, where it expects the state to come up with its report regarding the measures undertaken to ensure that untreated sewage does not drain into the Ganga. Pollution of river Ganga has been a cause of long time, and this hearing is one of the series to remember the health and safety of pilgrims and the soundness of the river in the longer run. While NGT presses the authorities into action faster, the fate of Ganga and safety of millions of devotees continue to hang in balance.
Source: National Green Tribunal Proceedings and Reports, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board