The National Green Tribunal has directed the Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Boards to display the water quality of the Ganga at all strategic locations on a monthly basis, to indicate whether the river water is fit for drinking and bathing.
A Bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, further pulled up the National Mission for Clean Ganga over its submission that the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, U.P. and West Bengal have not provided relevant information pertaining to the stretches between Kanpur to Buxar and Buxar to Ganga Sagar.
“It has indicated that the States have not provided the information and therefore, action plans could not be formulated within the stipulated time frame. The lackadaisical approach of the NMCG can hardly be appreciated as it has been set up by the government with the sole object of rejuvenation of Ganga…,” the Bench said.
It added, “We may have to take coercive action, including environment compensation being required to be paid by the NMCG, and U.P., Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal for not responding and failing to formulate the action plans for Phase II and Phase III.”
The green panel has granted NMCG and the respective States a “final opportunity” to file action plans by April 30, pertaining to sewage treatment and utilisation of the same.
The Uttar Pradesh government has also been directed to ensure that a committee headed by Justice Arun Tandon is consulted pertaining to waste management following the Kumbh mela in Prayagraj (Allahabad).
