Ganga pollution a matter of concern for judiciary: NGT

Observing that pollution of Ganga is a matter of serious concern for the judiciary, the National Green Tribunal has constituted three committees to prevent and control indiscriminate discharge of industrial effluents into the river and its tributaries.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar constituted the three committees-- Principal Committee, Implementation Committee and State Level Committee-- to ensure proper implementation of its orders.
"Pollution of the river Ganga has been of a serious concern not only for the different wings of the State but even for the judiciary...
"This river has significance not only in spiritual and cultural/mythological sight of the countrymen, but has also sustained millions of lives on its banks/basin," the bench said.

It noted that as far as industrial pollution in the river is concerned, there were nine states which are primarily concerned.
They are Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, NCT of Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

It also said that all industries in these states, carrying on the activities in tanning, paper and pulp, sugar, sugar -cum-distillery, dyeing, printing and operating slaughter houses, without consent of the boards concerned shall be directed to stop their business.
The Supreme Court had on October 29 asked the tribunal to take action against industrial units polluting Ganga, including snapping water and power connections to them while slamming the Centre and State Pollution Control Boards for their "failure" to punish erring units.

The tribunal was hearing a batch of petitions contending that Ganga was being polluted due to discharge of highly toxic and harmful effluents.