Ganga gets a helping hand from NGT, dumping waste in the river will attract Rs 50,000 penalty

Going strict on the people who have been contributing to the rising pollution in river Ganga, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday ordered the authorities to impose a penalty of Rs 50,000 on those who dump waste in the river, within the stretch of Haridwar to Unnao.

The NGT has also declared 100 meters from edge of River Ganga as ‘'No-Development Zone' in the stretch between Haridwar in Uttarakhand and Unnao in Uttar Pradesh.

It said no dumping of waste of any kind shall be allowed within 500 metres from the edge of River Ganga. Uttar Pradesh should be ‘duty-bound’ to shift tanneries from Jajmau to Unnao or any other place it considers appropriate within six weeks, it said.

The NGT has also directed the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand government to formulate guidelines for religious activities on ghats of Ganga or its tributaries.

A supervisory committee has also been formed to oversee implementation of directions passed in its 543-page judgement and submit report to it.

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