The plea, by Vivek Tyagi, a local, had alleged that the Nagar panchayat was releasing sewage into the canal through an illegally-built drainage system.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday slapped a Rs 25 lakh penalty on the Uttar Pradesh government for discharging wastewater into Upper Ganga canal, and also ordered them to give a performance guarantee of Rs 35 lakh with an undertaking.
The NGT bench, headed by chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel, passed the order while hearing a plea on the discharge of untreated water into the Upper Ganga canal by the Nilwari Nagar Panchayat in Ghaziabad district.
The plea, by Vivek Tyagi, a local, had alleged that the Nagar panchayat was releasing sewage into the canal through an illegally-built drainage system. This, the plea had said, was resulting in pollution of the groundwater.
The NGT bench said that the state authorities had failed to act on waste management and treatment of wastewater. The green panel stressed that a clean environment is a fundamental right and if there is apathy, coercive action was necessary.
"The chief secretary may furnish a progress report to this Tribunal. Having regard to the serious implication on public health, the matter must be seen with due attention from the highest level of authorities instead of being left to the lowest level," the bench said.
Earlier, the Tribunal had formed a joint committee that was tasked with preparing short-term and long-term action plans to treat wastewater. This committee comprised Chief Engineer of the irrigation department and directors of local bodies.
Meanwhile, the state government submitted to Tribunal that a sewage treatment plant will be built within six months. The Tribunal bench sought an undertaking to back this submission and also directed the state government to give a performance guarantee of Rs 35 lakh.
The Upper Ganga Canal is a major irrigation project beginning from Bhimgoda barrage in Haridwar, passing through Muzzafarnagar, Meerut, Agra, Ghaziabad, Firozabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Baghpat, Sahranpur, Etah, and Jyotiba Phule Nagar.
NGT Asks For Rs 35L Action Guarantee
- UP govt told NGT that a sewage treatment plant will be built within 6 months
- NGT bench sought an undertaking to back this submission
- It directed the UP govt to give a performance guarantee of Rs 35 lakh
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