NGT not happy with slow progress of Kahn, Saraswati cleaning

The central bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday expressed displeasure over slow progress of ongoing works towards cleaning Kahn and Saraswati Rivers.

The central bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday expressed displeasure over slow progress of ongoing works towards cleaning Kahn and Saraswati Rivers.

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The divisional commissioner of Indore division Sanjay Dubey submitted the status report before NGT explaining about the enduring efforts made by district administration and civic body towards cleaning the rivers.

In the status report, Dubey told the tribunal that the district administration is making efforts to remove encroachments from the banks of Kahn River.

The report mentioned that there are about 6,000 encroachments alongside the entire 73 kilometer river stretch. District administration has initiated proceedings to relocate slum dwellings from the banks of the river, the commissioner informed the tribunal.

City-based social activist Kishore Kodwani, who was also present in the proceedings, refuted the admin's claims and told the tribunal that the administration is working without a proper blueprint.

The commissioner in his report assured the tribunal that a sewerage treatment plant (STP) of 245 MLD (million liters per day) capacity at Kabit Khedi will be ready by February 2016, and only treated water will be allowed to flow into the river.

The NGT has earlier issued stern instruction to district administration to fence the river wherever needed and stop people and corporation staff from dumping waste into the river.

The Kahn and Saraswati rivers join Kshipra River near Ujjain. If the murky waters of Kahn are allowed to flow into Kshipra, it will have severe effect on health of lakhs of pilgrims who will visit Ujjain during Simhastha 2016.