This is in direct contravention of NGT’s 2017 order regarding the section of Ganga from Haridwar to Unnao and Kanpur
Sewage flowing in the Ganga at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Photo: Vikas Choudhary / CSE
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), while hearing a recent case, has remarked that the Ganga’s floodplain at Sarjupurba, downstream of Ranighat in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district, is being illegally encroached in direct contravention of its 2017 order.
Not just that, garbage, polythene and sewage are being dumped into the river, the bench of NGT Chairman and Justice Prakash Srivastava stated on April 22, 2024.
The bench, after perusing the report filed by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department on February 10 this year, said the latitude and longitude provided by the Central Water Commission at the concerned place has not been marked as a ‘No Development Zone’ and ‘No Construction or Regulatory Zone’.
Also, the order given in the 2017 Ganga verdict regarding the demarcation of floodplains has not been acted upon, said the bench.
“No development or construction work can be taken up within 100 metres from the banks of the Ganga,” NGT had stated in its 2017 judgment on the first phase of cleaning the Ganga from Haridwar to Unnao and Kanpur.
The background
On December 4, 2023, NGT had noted in the same matter (of April 22 this year) that the Ganga floodplain in question has not been notified. Also, no work has been done on sewage treatment in the drains leading to the ghats or bathing sites on the river bank. The tribunal had sought a detailed reply from the Kanpur Municipal Corporation on the matter.
The bench said certain construction permissions have been granted in the regulatory zone, including keeping the plinth level above the floodplain and constructing the roof and first storey keeping in mind the flood level of 100 years.
Such permission is prima facie not in accordance with the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authority Order, 2016 and the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authority (Amendment) Order, 2024.
The bench said the demarcation of ‘No Development Zone’ and ‘No Construction or Regulatory Zone’ should be done as per the 2016 order. At present, the Uttar Pradesh Council has sought three weeks’ time to file a reply in this matter.
The next hearing of the case is now on August 5, 2024.
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