NGT seeks UPPCB reply on discharge of sewage in Ganga

The National Green Tribunal today sought response from Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) on a plea which alleged that its failure has led to discharge of untreated sewage water in river Ganga causing irreparable damage to the ecology.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also issued notices to the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of municipal councils of Mirzapur, Chunar, Bhadohi, Fatehpur and Hastinapur in Uttar Pradesh on the petition filed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
In its plea, CPCB has also sought a direction to UPPCB and the CEOs of these five municipal councils to "prepare a plan of action to clean river Ganga and water bodies, ground water and soil in a time-bound manner and recover the cost of preparation and execution of such plan of action from the polluters."

The plea, which was mentioned before the bench yesterday by Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, urged the NGT to impose appropriate penalties on UPPCB and the five municipal councils for their alleged "inaction" in this regard.
CPCB said it had earlier also issued direction to UPPCB for treatment of sewage and restoration of water quality and had also asked it to submit a time-bound action plan for proper collection, treatment and disposal of sewage.
It alleged that despite reminders no such action plan was formulated by these five municipal councils.

"The respondents (UPPCB and five municipal councils) have failed to provide adequate sewage network in the town and also failed to install sewage treatment plants for effective treatment of sewage discharged into the river," the petition, filed through advocate Balendu Shekhar, claimed.

"Their failure to act is causing irreparable environmental damage to river Ganga and has massive ramifications for the people at large in Uttar Pradesh," it said.
CPCB also said that it has identified one of the longest polluted stretches in river Ganga from Kannauj to Varanasi and the main cause of pollution in the river was discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage.