SC pulls up Centre for loopholes again in GAP

New Delhi, Feb 20 (UNI) The Supreme Court today again pulled up the Centre for not monitoring the implementation of Ganga Action Plan (GAP) for cleaning the holy river.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and D K Jain directed the Centre to file a detailed affidavit giving information about the money allocated for GAP I and II and the amount spent by it as well as the five states namely UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand, through which Ganga flows.

It also directed the Centre to place on record the complete GAP along with today's order before the monitoring committee meeting scheduled to be held on March 3.

Earlier, amicus curiae, Krishan Mahajan submitted before the court that thousands of crores have been spent on GAP but the quality of water of Ganga has become worse despite the fact that GAP I is already over.

He also contended that the Union government's affidavit dated November 15, 2006 and January 17, 2007 are totally silent on the finding of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, which points out huge financial irregularities in the use of funds and also its illegal diversion in some other schemes by the states.

He also submitted before the court that the Centre has not monitored the progress of GAP despite its directions.

The court, while adjourning the hearing to the third week of March, directed the concerned parties to file affidavits and rejoinders before the next date of hearing.

UNI