NGT pulls up UP, Uttarakhand on rising pollution in Ramganga

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal today pulled up Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments over rising pollution in river Ganga's tributary Ramganga and asked them to apprise it about the steps taken to prevent discharge of effluents in the water body.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar asked the state governments to inform it about the steps taken to ensure no hazardous substances were discharged in the river.

"If you (UP government) want to do something there are solutions. You need to find some solutions. You can install Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) at the mouth of the drains connecting the river to prevent the effluent discharge in it... Put up for further hearing on Monday," it said.

Advocate Gaurav Bansal, appearing for the petitioner, informed the tribunal that an affidavit filed by UP Pollution Control Board, had stated that the level of hazardous substances, including magnesium and chloride, in the tributary was 50 times higher than the permissible limit.

The petitioner contended that brass factories situated on the banks of the river, discharged these substances into it.

Ramganga is one of the major tributaries of river Ganga which originates from Uttarakhand and passes through Moradabad, Bareilly, Badaun, Shahjahanpur and Hardoi cities of Uttar Pradesh located on its banks.

According to the UPPCB affidavit, there are 23 drains in Moradabad which are discharging untreated waste directly into the river. It also said that 120 MLD domestic sewage was being generated from Bareilly, which is being discharged directly or indirectly into Ram Ganga without any treatment.

Earlier, NGT had directed the Uttar Pradesh and UPPCB to submit a list of polluting industries and their activities and whether their effluent are treated before they flow into Ramganga. It had also asked the pollution board to put out the list of polluting industries on its website.