Submit report on steps to clean Ganga: NGT to Uttarakhand

New Delhi, October 15

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments to file affidavits stating what steps they have taken to comply with its directions to clean the Ganga in the stretch between Gomukh and Unnao.

The green panel, in a detailed judgment, had passed a slew of directions to rejuvenate Ganga, declaring as ‘No Development Zone’, an area of 100 metres from the edge of the river between Haridwar and Unnao and prohibiting dumping of waste within 500 metres from the river.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar stated, “We make it clear that in the event now the compliance is not made, to the directions of the tribunal, we will be compelled to pass coercive orders. Let copy of this order be provided to the chief secretaries of UP and Uttarakhand.” The matter is listed for next hearing on October 24.

The tribunal had earlier, in a detailed judgement, said the government has spent over Rs 7,000 crore in two years to clean the Ganga which still remains a “serious environmental issue”.

The order, running into 543 pages, said, “Till the demarcation of floodplains and identification of permissible and non-permissible activities by the state government of this judgment, we direct that 100 metres from the edge of the river be treated as no development/construction zone between Haridwar to Unnao in UP.”

‘No-development zones’ are areas where no construction, including commercial or residential buildings can come up. It also imposed a complete prohibition on disposal of solid waste and  bio-medical waste on the floodplains or into the river. PTI