SC transfers decade-old PIL on the Ganges to NGT

While disposing of the matter, the bench said the NGT Act provided for penalty and other penal provisions in case of non-compliance of its orders.
File pic of Ganga river | PTI
File pic of Ganga river | PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday transferred a decade-long pending PIL pertaining to the cleaning of the river Ganga to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar said since issues relating to municipal solid waste and industrial waste are already being heard by NGT on a daily basis since 2014, the remaining issues concerning discharge of domestic sewage and other sources of pollution will also be dealt by the NGT.

The court said NGT will be required to submit an interim report to it every six months and granted liberty to petitioner M C Mehta to approach it if he had any grievances in consonance with the law.

Mehta, who appeared in person, raised concerns over the hearing being carried out by the NGT citing dearth of a compliance mechanism.

While disposing of the matter, the bench said the NGT Act provided for penalty and other penal provisions in case of non-compliance of its orders.

In 2014, the court while referring to issues related to the enforcement of the provisions of statutes concerning the environment and its preservation arising out of discharge of industrial effluents into river Ganga to NGT, citing time constraints.

The court had then said time constraints unfortunately do not allow the apex court to monitor the issue on a continuing basis, despite dedicating time and energy in that direction over the last 30 years.

Mehta, who had filed the PIL in 1985, brought to focus the problems arising from unabated pollution in the river by referring to media reports alleging that Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited in Bhadrabad near Haridwar was discharging untreated industrial effluents into the Ganges.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com