NGT directs Uttar Pradesh govt to check untreated sewage discharge into the Yamuna

A petition has alleged discharge of untreated wastewater from Vrindavan and Kosi towns into the Yamuna. The NGT has directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to review the remedial action. The state bureaucracy has to submit an independent report of the compliance status.

Gaon Connection
| Updated: May 24th, 2021

The petition blamed the situation on the collusion between private realtors and government officers for the pollution. Photo: Flickr

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), on May 20, directed the Uttar Pradesh administration to act against the unregulated discharge of sewage into the Yamuna river. The tribunal was  considering a petition that alleged discharge of untreated wastewater from the state’s Vrindavan and Kosi towns in river Yamuna and Kosi drain, which was causing river pollution.

The petition blamed the situation on the collusion between private realtors and government officers for the pollution.

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“We direct Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh, with the assistance of concerned officers, to look into the issue mentioned above and review the remedial action in pursuance of direction in the order of the tribunal as well as judgement of the Supreme Court,” a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel stated.

“We also request the Monitoring Committee constituted by this Tribunal for monitoring compliance of environmental norms in the State of UP, headed by Justice SVS Rathore, former Judge of the Allahabad High Court at Lucknow, to look into the matter and give its independent report of the compliance status as on September 30, 2021 before the next date by e-mail,” the bench added.

Yamuna river along the ghats. Photo: Flickr

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The bench directed the state bureaucracy to submit an independent report of the compliance status as on September, 2021, before October 25, 2021 while addressing the petition that was filed through advocate Akash Vashishtha. 

The plea was filed by Acharya Damodar Shastri and others alleging failure of the state authorities in preventing discharge of untreated sewage and waste water/effluents from Vrindavan and Kosi towns in river Yamuna and Kosi drain near Sunrakh. 

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“Gigantic quantum of sewage generated from the illegal and unauthorised colonies and constructions on the river bed and flood plains, which have been allowed to flourish, with the active collusion of land mafia/realtors and the government agencies and their officers,” the petition mentioned.

“Numerous more such illegal constructions and encroachments in the form of houses, ashrams, car parkings and shops etc. are continuing to take place unabated on the eco-fragile floodplains of Yamuna in Vrindavan, all of which are discharging their sewage/waste water directly into the river Yamuna,” the plea added.