Discharge of sewage water in river Ganga, Yamuna: NGT imposes fine on Prayagraj DM for delay in filing report

The Tribunal in an order passed on February 7, 2024, had formed a five-member Joint Committee with the District Magistrate, Prayagraj as nodal agency. The Green Tribunal issued directions to the Committee to inspect all the drains joining river Ganga and Yamuna and all the STPs from which discharge is being made to river Ganga and Yamuna.

District Prayagraj carries out the spot inspection, collects the samples of the discharge of untreated water, gets the analysis of samples done, collects the information relating to the functioning of the STP, and submits a report before the Tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing, i.e., March 13, 2024.

No report in terms of the order dated February 7, was submitted by the Joint Committee, noted the Tribunal.

When the matter was taken up on March 13, the Tribunal noted that even after a lapse of substantial time, the report of the Joint Committee was not filed. Taking note of the communication of the District Magistrate, Prayagraj, the Tribunal had granted a further six weeks to file the report, failing which the District Magistrate, Prayagraj was to remain virtually present.

Even within the extended period of six weeks, no report was filed and we are informed that some report has been filed a day before which is lying in defect. Such conduct of the District Magistrate, Prayagraj has resulted in not only non-compliance with the order of the Tribunal but also permitting the flowing of untreated sewage into River Ganga and Yamuna without any appropriate action for a long time and resulting in deterioration in water quality. Hence, we impose a cost of Rs 20,000/- upon the District Magistrate, Prayagraj, with a direction to deposit it with the Registrar General of the Tribunal within two weeks. Counsel representing the District Magistrate, Prayagraj seeks and is granted two weeks to cure the defect in the report so that the report comes on record, the Tribunal stated.

The Tribunal direction came on May 21, while hearing a petition raising the grievance in respect of the discharge of sewage water in rivers Ganga and Yamuna and also improper and unplanned extraction of river water expressing the apprehension that there may not be sufficient clean water during the next Kumbh Mela of 2024 - 2025.

According to the status report filed by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) recently, the estimated sewage generation is 500 mld against which sewage treatment plants are set up to treat 340 mld and this capacity is under expansion to have facility for 533 mld.

As per Pryagraj Mela Pradhikaran, 37 drains carrying sewage are tapped and diverted to 10 STPs, and treated sewage as per compliance with notified standards by the Ministry of Environment and Foreign are discharged into River Ganga and Yamuna, noted the Tribunal.

Further, for 41 drains, interception and diversion to STPs is yet to be achieved and this indicates that at least 67.82 mld of treated sewage is flowing through River Ganga and Yamuna, further noted by the Tribunal.

Noted the submissions from the status report of respondents authorities, the bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, "In order to ascertain the correct position, we need to have the report relating total generation of sewage, existing installed STPs and their current level of utilization and functioning/ performance of STPs from which treated water is discharged in River Ganga and Yamuna at Paryagraj."

"Hence, we form a committee comprising representatives of Member Secretary (CPCB), RO MOEF&CC (Lucknow), District Magistrate (Paryagraj), RO UPPCB (Paryagraj), Chief Engineer, UP Jal Nigam", earlier said the Tribunal.

The committee was directed to inspect all the drains joining River Ganga and Yamuna and all the STPs from which discharge is being made to River Ganga and Yamuna in District Paryagraj, directed the bench. (ANI)