Disposal of solid waste near Ganga: NGT seeks Centre's reply

New Delhi, Nov 20: Taking a serious view of dumping of garbage around the Ganga, the National Green Tribunal has sought the Centre's response on a plea seeking directions for disposal of solid wastes on the bank of the river accumulated during Kartik Poornima fair in Uttar Pradesh.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notice to Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Ministry of Water Resources, Uttar Pradesh and others while posting the matter for further consideration on December 19.

"Issue notice to the respondents..." the bench said. The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by Uttar Pradesh resident Krishan Kant Singh and NGO SAFE, seeking direction to organisers and the district administration to make proper arrangement for the fair so that the river is not polluted.

The plea, filed through advocate Rahul Choudhary, contends that Kartik Poornima Fair was recently held on the banks of Ganga from November 1-6. Many villagers attending the fair stay on the banks of the river, cook food and wash utensils at the same place besides disposing plastic, thermocol, bottles, and other wastes material and biodegradable material, the plea said.

The toilets made for the visitors also discharge wastes directly into the river thereby polluting it, it said.

The plea alleged that the district administration has not taken any step to control the wastes disposal and even after the fair is over no steps have been taken to clear the solid wastes dumped.

"Direct the respondents to clear the entire stretches of river Ganga near Garhmukteshwar, Brijghat and Pooth in Hapur and village in Tigri in Amroha districts of state of Uttar Pradesh," the plea said.

Earlier, the bench had constituted three committees to prevent and control indiscriminate discharge of industrial effluents into the river and its tributaries.

PTI