The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday rapped the Uttarakhand government for not taking adequate measures to control emission of waste into the Ganga from sewage treatment plants (STPs) installed near it.
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said, “Tell us one thing that you or any of the local bodies have done to clean the Ganga in Uttarakhand.”
Warning the government and other stakeholders, the Bench said, “Have you constructed bio-digesters? Show us if STPs are working according to norms. We will impose a fine of ₹10 lakh as environmental compensation and penalty on whoever we find has not complied with our orders.”
In a separate matter, the government told the NGT that it was in the process of carrying out a ground survey for construction of a ropeway to the Kedarnath shrine. It told the NGT that the option of mass transport of pilgrims by ropeways was being considered to prevent noise and air pollution due to frequent flying of helicopters in Kedarnath. The plea was filed an NGO, which claimed that unregulated flying of helicopters over Kedarnath sanctuary had impacted wildlife in the area.
