Ganga cleaning projects: SC directs Govt. to file fresh affidavit

Expressing dissatisfaction with the government's affidavit on the Ganga cleaning projects, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed it to file fresh affidavits within the next two weeks.

Supreme Court advocate Vijay Panjwani said, "The court has directed all the ministries connected to this matter to give a stage-by-stage milestone. The court has felt that unless each stage is known, responsibility and accountability will not be possible and even the assessment of achievements will not be possible."

Confirming that the Supreme Court has called for a fresh affidavit, Panjwani said, "The court said that the affidavit was very bureaucratic in nature and was full of figures. The court further said that they are not really interested in the financial part of the projects and directed the government to prepare a five minute DVD or PowerPoint presentation0 so that the court can understand what exactly is going on."

Panjwani further said he felt that till Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself did not take a strong interest in the Ganga cleaning projects, the projects would not be able to fulfill their timelines.

"The Central Pollution Control Board said that the Ganga cleaning projects were actually the vision of Prime Minister Modi but the court did not feel that the Prime Minister should directly give the affidavit so they did not insist on his participation. However, unless the Prime Minister takes direct interest, it will not be possible to clean the Ganga within the next five years," he said.

Cleaning up the Ganga has been one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet projects since he came to power and is a topic that he discussed during his recent visit to Japan.