Ganga, Yamuna living entity: HC

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 20

The Uttarakhand High Court on Monday declared the Ganga and Yamuna and all their tributaries and stream, flowing continuously or intermittently, as living persons with all rights and duties.

While hearing a writ petition for the preservation of the two rivers, judges Rajiv Sharma and Alok Singh ordered, “The Ganga and Yamuna, all their tributaries, streams, every natural water flowing continuously or intermittently, be declared as living entities having the status of a legal person”.

Further, the judges ordered that the Director, Namami Gange, the Chief Secretary of the state and the Advocate General should be declared as the human face to protect, conserve and preserve the Ganga and Yamuna and their tributaries. “These officers are bound to uphold the status of the rivers and also promote the health and well-being of them,” said the judges.

Their orders came as a follow-up of the previous order of March 6, 2017.

During the hearing, Virendra Sharma, Senior Joint Commissioner, Ministry of Water Resource & Ganga Rejuvenation, also made a startling revelation that despite long correspondence, neither UP, nor Uttarakhand were cooperating with the Central Government for the constitution of the Ganga Management Board. He said despite the reluctance of the two states, the board would be constituted within eight weeks by the Central Government.