The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought replies from the Centre, the Ministry of Water Resources and the Uttar Pradesh Government on a petition highlighting huge amount of solid and human waste being disposed of in the river Ganga during the annual Kartik Poornima Fair, famously known as ‘Ganga Snan’.
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar issued notices and sought responses within three weeks.
The petition has been filed by environmental activist Krishnakant Singh and Social Action for Forest & Environment through activist Vikrant Tongad.
They have raised the issue of disposal of solid waste on the bank of the river Ganga during the recently-concluded ‘Kartik Poornima Fair’ and disposal of human waste directly into the river in blatant disregard of the Water Act.
This year, the fair was organised from November 1 to November 6 in which almost 50 lakh people from across the country participated. This fair is termed as one of the largest fairs after Kumbh in the country. The main organiser is the District Administration of Hapur and Amroha.
The applicants said: “The fair is held on the bank of the river Ganga stretching about 4 to 5 km on both sides near Garhmukteshwar. Many villagers attending the fair stay on the banks of the Ganga, cook their food and do the washing at the same place. The people taking part in the fair dispose of the plastic, thermocol, bottles and other waste material and biodegradable material on the bank of the river Ganga.”
“The toilets made for those coming to the fair also dispose of the wastes directly into the river thereby polluting the river. The District Administration also took some land from the farmers on the banks of the river. The owners of the land before ploughing the land burn the wastes disposed by the people participating in the fair.”