Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding measures to contain Ganga pollution, 18/12/2019
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of M. C. Mehta Vs Union of India & Others dated 18/12/2019 regarding review of progress of compliance of directions of the NGT to prevent and remedy pollution of river Ganga in the light of orders of Supreme Court passed in October 2014 and January 2017.
The NGT directs timely completion of all projects relating to sewage treatment by July 31, 2020 with respect to ongoing projects and December 31, 2020 in respect of others failing which compensation has to be paid. Till then, to avoid untreated sewage being discharged directly into Ganga, interim remedial measures needs to be adopted. National Mission for Clean Ganga and concerned states (Uttarakhand, Uttr Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal has been asked to ensure that discharge of industrial effluents in Ganga and its tributaries/drains should be prevented by ensuring installation of proper functioning of ETPs/CETPs. Also, the treated sewage and sludge should be used as a manure and flood plain zones be demarcated and encroachments prevented. These were some of the slew of measures, mentioned in the NGT order.