Notice issued to Centre, Uttarakhand government for illegal dumping of debris in Ganga

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday issued a notice to the Centre, Uttarakhand Government and the Border Road Organisation in regard to the illegal dumping of debris into the Ganga river.

The court has also asked Uttarakhand's Additional Secretary forest to appear in person on May 31. The Uttarakhand Government admitted illegal dumping of road construction debris in the Gangotri range. It submitted before the green tribunal that they have found illegal dumping in Gangotri national park during inspection, in Bhairo Ghati.

The state government promised to crack down on illegal dumping of road debris before next hearing.

Earlier on Tuesday, the NGT summoned the Uttarakhand's environment secretary on widening of Gangotri March for Chardham Yatra. The green tribunal's summon came on Wednesday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Kedarnath to attend the portal opening ceremony. Kedarnath is one of the Char Dham that witnessed wide destruction during the June 2013 floods.

The green court took a strict stand on collection of garbage and will also put its stance on cutting of trees in large numbers.

The NGT asked the Uttarakhand secretary, "Will you keep debris on the road?" Under the Char Dham National Highway Connectivity Improvement programme sanctioned by the Centre, the 268 km-long-road is to be widened up to 12 metres.