NGT pulls up UP, Uttarakhand governments over Ganga

A National Green Tribunal bench headed by chairperson justice Adarsh Kumar Goel on Monday directed the Uttarakhand government to ensure that no illegal camping takes place on the banks of river Ganga and its tributaries.

“The state of Uttarakhand may ensure that no illegal camping takes place on the banks of river Ganga and its tributaries. We may make specific mention of alleged illegal camping at Piyani village in District Pauri Garhwal towards Neelkanth road,” the tribunal said.

It also directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to prohibit discharge of any sewage or industrial effluents either directly into the river or its tributaries.

“Accordingly, we overrule the views of the UPPCB (Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board) and the NMCG (National Mission for Clean Ganga) and upheld the view of CPCB and direct immediate closure of all the polluting discharges by such industries into Ganga or its tributaries.

Compliance of this direction may be ensured by the UPPCB.

The Member Secretary of the UPPCB may remain present in person before this tribunal on the next date along with compliance report and explanation for violating the directions of this tribunal,” it said.

“We are surprised at the attitude of the UPPCB and the NMCG which is in violation of orders of this tribunal and the mandate of law,” it said.

The bench warned that any failure must result in deterrent compensation being recovered from the persons/authorities responsible for discharge of untreated sewage/effluents into the river. “Such compensation must be deterrent and adequate to recover the cost of restoration. This is necessary to ensure that polluting of river Ganga is no longer a profitable activity.

With PTI inputs