Allahabad HC seeks affidavit on diversion of Ganga water to Delhi, Noida

Expressing serious concern over the rising pollution and falling water level in the Ganga, the Allahabad high court today sought an affidavit from the Uttar Pradesh government on diversion of water from the river to canals in Delhi and Noida.

A division bench comprising justices Ashok Bhushan and Arun Tandon asked the state chief secretary to file the affidavit within three weeks and fixed August 13 as the next date of hearing.

The order was passed on a PIL whereby the court's attention was drawn towards the pollution in the Ganga, which has been declared as the national river by the Centre.

Earlier, senior advocate AK Gupta, who has been made the amicus curae in the matter, informed the court that the river bed in Allahabad was "drying up" since water was being diverted to canals in quantities more than required.