NGT asks authorities to submit specific timelines for cleaning Yamuna

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), while analyzing that the timelines to take action against Yamuna pollution have not been adhered to in the past 30 years, directed all the stakeholders to give a specific schedule for cleaning of the river as the pollution was still continuing.

An NGT bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, NGT Chairperson, clearly stated that the green panel will finalise new set of timelines along with clear adverse consequences of violating revised schedules.

The NGT bench said, “Such pollution needs to be controlled at the earliest for protection of environment and public health and having regard to the unique significance of the Yamuna river, which is a major tributary of the Ganga river.”

The green panel asked all authorities to submit timelines for the actions they will be taking in terms of orders of the panel and directed Sanjay Jain, Additional Solicitor General, appearing for the Delhi government, to compile the information and put forth suggestions for extended timeline wherever it has expired.

The NGT had earlier said that the failure to stop activities polluting Yamuna by the authorities is not only affecting life and health of citizens, but also pose as a threat to the existence of a major river like the Yamuna.

Earlier, the NGT expressed dissatisfaction over the cleaning of the river and directed the governments of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to submit a performance guarantee of Rs 10 crore each within a month. Pollution in Yamuna is a serious concern as the river is highly contaminated with untreated sewage and industrial effluents.

The bench had also asked the Haryana Pollution Control Board (HPCB) to study the water quality and the flow of Yamuna at the point where it enters the State of Haryana. The bench also asked for a list of industries located in the catchment area.