Devise plan to control pollution in river stretches: NGT to Centre

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Centre to devise proper mechanism for effective monitoring for control of pollution and rejuvenation of all polluted river stretches in the country.

The NGT Principal Bench headed by Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said that the Ministry of Jal Shakti should set up a mechanism and all states have to extend co-coperation for its implementation.

“The said mechanism may be called “National River Rejuvenation Mechanism” (NRRM) or given any other suitable name. NRRM may also consider the observations with regard to setting up of National/State/District Environment Data Grid at appropriate levels as an effective monitoring strategy."

Observing that there has been continuous failure of statutory mechanism for preventing pollution of water and hardly any accountability has been fixed for such serious failures, the Bench directed the chief secretaries of all the States and Union Territories that they must work in mission mode for strict compliance of timeliness for commencing new projects and completing ongoing projects.

“The process of rejuvenation of rivers need not be confined to only 351 stretches but may be applicable to all small, medium and big polluted rivers, including those dried up,” the tribunal said.

The green bench had earlier formed a Central Monitoring Committee to prepare and enforce a national plan to make over 351 highly polluted river stretches in different states pollution free.