Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding dumping of garbage in Dardha river, Jehanabad, Bihar, 07/04/2025
Order of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of In Re : Pollution level is increasing in the City due to dumping of garbage in Dardha River of Jehanabad Bihar dated 07/04/2025.
The Application was taken up suo motu in view of a news published in newspaper ‘Hindustan’ on 26.11.2023, mentioning that pollution level is increasing in the city of Jehanabad, Bihar, due to dumping of garbage in Dardha River.
Chief Executive Officer, Nagar Parishad, Jehanabad in its report, February 5, 2024 stated that Jehanabad Nagar Parishad has 33 Wards and the river Dardha flows through the middle of the town. It was stated that two Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) with capacity of 17 MLD and 7 MLD have been sanctioned for Jehanabad city under the Amrut 2.0 Project. Detailed Project Report has been prepared and technical approval has been granted by the Chief General Manager, Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (BUIDCO) and have been forwarded to the Principal Secretary, Urban Development and Housing Department vide letter dated December 27, 2023.
It was also stated that there were initially five garbage dumping sites near the river Dardha where locals used to dump waste for over 20 years and now, out of 5 dumps, 3 dumps have been cleared and one is under cleaning process and the remaining one will also be cleared during the next summer season.
The NGT, April 7, 2025 taking into consideration the various affidavits filed by the authorities and the stand taken by the state respondents that 24 months time would be required for completion of the entire project relating to construction of sewage treatment plant (STP) and the entire sewerage project, the NGT disposed of the application with a direction that the project in question should be completed within two years and the affidavit of compliance would be filed by the Secretary, Urban Development and Housing Department, Bihar by July 31, 2027. The compliance by the state respondents should include removal of encroachments and removal of all waste and garbage dumped on the bank of the river Dardha, the order said.