Tell us one place where Ganga is clean: NGT

New Delhi, October 9

The National Green Tribunal (NGT)today asked the government to “tell us one place” where the Ganga is clean and said despite spending huge sums, the situation had gone from bad to worse.

The NGT expressed open displeasure at the government’s lackadaisical approach towards ensuring cleanliness and uninterrupted flow of the Ganga and said “we take it that almost nothing has happened in reality”.

The NGT, which was asked to act against industrial units polluting the Ganga by the Supreme Court, said the Centre and the states over the years had only been shifting responsibility and nothing concrete was visible on the ground.

“Would you please tell us that is it correct that more than Rs 5,000 crore has been spent on the Ganga in making it worse from bad. We don’t want to know whether you have allotted this quantum of money to the states or have spent it yourself. Out of the 2,500-km stretch of the river, tell us one place, where the condition of the river has improved,” a Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked.

The counsel appearing for the Ministry of Water Resources told the Bench that almost Rs 4,000 crore has been spent on the rejuvenation of the river since 1985 till last year.

He said the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) Phase-I was launched as a Centrally funded scheme in 1985 and later the GAP Phase-II was initiated in 1993 to improve the river’s water quality.

In 2009, the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was set up for pollution control in the Ganga.

The NGRBA, a World Bank-funded scheme, was aimed at effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the Ganga and 70 per cent of the total project cost was contributed by the Centre and the remaining expenses were borne by the states, he said.

To this, the Bench said, “Better be careful of what you say. We take it as almost nothing has happened in reality. It is not suddenly that we are asking for all information from you. We have been waiting for the last one year. But for one reason or the other, you have been delaying the issue. We don’t want to comment on that. But this time we are not leaving it to your discretion, be rest assured. To clean the Ganga is your prime responsibility. Days are very short for you,” the Bench said.

The green Bench told the agencies concerned, including the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, to give their suggestions. It said, “We will not leave our orders vacant or negotiable. We will clearly state out the responsibility of every state.”

It said it planned to issue “strict directions” with regard to cleaning up of the river in the first phase from Gomukh to Kanpur.

During proceedings in the case, the NGT also directed Uttarakhand to furnish complete details of industries which operate from Gomukh to Haridwar and what business did they carry out.

“The state pollution control board has informed us that there were 298 seriously polluting industries in the state and out of which 223 units do not even have the consent from the board. How many industries are there in Haridwar, we want to know. Tell us what business do they carry out,” it said. The NGT directed the Uttarakhand Government to give a clear time schedule for the construction of sewage treatment plants in the state.

“You will give us the time schedule. If the hotels, ashrams, dharamshalas etc. don’t build STP or take consent from the state pollution board, we will shut them down,” the NGT warned.

The green bench also rapped Uttarakhand for building its STP on the entral fund. “Is it not your duty to provide sewage system in the city? What is your budget of sewage and water supply? What amount are you charging from the people in the name of providing basic amenities. What is you view on polluter pays principle,” the Bench asked the state while posting the matter for October 12. —PTI