NGT asks Jal Shakti Ministry, State governments whether directions to curb river pollution were followed

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Central and all State governments to file a report indicating whether directions contained in 2021 order to control river pollution have been complied with. [In re: News item published in “The Hindu” authored by Shri Jacob Koshy titled “More river stretches are now critically polluted: CPCB"].In an October 9 order, the NGT has sought a compliance report in the matter from the Chief Secretaries in all States and in the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS)..The order was passed after noting that a larger issue was involved, which concerned the implementation of the orders by the different authorities on a Pan India basis..A bench of Chairperson judicial member, Justice (retired) Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Dr A Senthil Veil were dealing with an execution application to enforce various directions earlier issued by the NGT to curb river pollution. .In February 2021, the NGT had issued various directions to control river pollution. Among these measures, the tribunal had also directed the Jal Shakti Ministry to formulate a National River Rejuvenation Mechanism.By the same order, the tribunal had also reiterated earlier directions passed in 2020 to address gaps in the generation and treatment of sewage..The NGT has now expressed concern that the tribunal's earlier directions appeared to have not yet been implemented by all States in true letter and spirit..Among other aspects, the tribunal was told that the State of Assam still lacked a sewage treatment facility to deal with the 437.23 million litres of sewage generated per day.Further, the applicant also highlighted that there was slow progress in implementation of three sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Guwahati and eight other STPs in other parts of Assam, apart from 30 stand-alone Faecal STPs in 30 towns. The number of polluted river stretches has decreased from 44 in 2018 to 10 in 2022 in Assam, the applicant's counsel added, although he also pointed out that a new stretch in the Tocklai River along Kumar Kaibarta has been added.In Bihar, the number of polluted river stretches have increased from 6 to 18, with water quality of river Sirsa degrading from priority III to II, the NGT was told. This aspects were recorded in the minutes of a Central Monitoring Committee report dated September 12, 2023. .Having considered the same, the NGT proceeded to admit the execution application and issue notice to the Central government and State authorities for a compliance report in the matter. The case has been listed to be heard next on December 13..[Read Order]