NGT Takes Suo Motu Cognizance Of News Report; Devises Action Plan For Polluted River Stretches Across India [Read Order]

Taking suo motu cognizance of a newspaper report about how more river stretches are now critically polluted as per the record of the Central Pollution Control Board, the National Green Tribunal has devised a model action plan, divided river stretches into “priorities” depending upon the extent of pollution and has directed all states and union territories to prepare action plans. Taking suo motu cognizance of a newspaper report about how more river stretches are now critically polluted as per the record of the Central Pollution Control Board, the National Green Tribunal has devised a model action plan, divided river stretches into “priorities” depending upon the extent of pollution and has directed all states and union territories to prepare action plans within two months to bring all polluted river stretches to be fit for at least bathing. The tribunal said the action plans may be prepared by a four-member committee comprising, director, Environment; director, Urban Development; director, Industries; and member secretary, State Pollution Control Board of concerned State, and this committee may be called “River Rejuvenation Committee’’. Stressing on absolute necessity of an action plan to restore polluted stretches of rivers, the Tribunal gave an outline of action plan and what it must cover – A) Source control -- includes industrial pollution control and treatment and disposal of domestic sewage; B) Channelization, treatment, utilisation and disposal of treated domestic sewage, C) River catchment/Basin Management-Controlled ground water extraction and periodic quality assessment, D) regulating activities in floodplain zone; issues relating to environmental/ ecological flow, and E) Such other issues which may be found relevant for restoring water quality to the prescribed standards.