Report of the NMCG to the NGT on the necessity of EIA for the navigation infrastructure project in river Ganga from Allahabad to Haldia, 02/5/2022
Report of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in the matter of M.A. No. 253/2019 in Original Application No. 487/2015 (Bharat Jhunjhunwala & Others Vs Inland Waterways Authority & Others).
The report was in compliance of the National Green Tribunal order, September 2, 2021 on whether EIA is necessary for navigation infrastructure project in the river Ganga in the stretch from Allahabad to Haldia (known as the National Waterway 1), undertaken by the Inland Waterways Authority of India. The project envisages developmental activities such as river terminal, jetties and locks and barrages and 4 multimodal river water terminals along with necessary dredging operations. The project is estimated to cost Rs. 4,200 crores and likely to take 6 years to be completed.
The NGT, September 2, 2021 observed that Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has still not furnished the report on the issue of requirement of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and issued notice on information that the matter is within the purview of the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS).
The NMCG, Ministry of Jal Shakti, February 28, 2022 had sought four weeks time to submit a report on the matter. The NMCG, in its report to the Tribunal said that since the issue involved the applicability of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study and since the NGT has observed the requirement of obtaining an environmental impact assessment study in respect of the project in question and directed for the constitution of an expert committee - NMCG has no objections if directed to be associated with the said Expert Committee.