Gauhati HC Seeks State Response In Suo Motu PIL Over Contamination Of Brahmaputra Tributary

The Gauhati High Court recently issued notice to the Assam Government and other authorities in a Suo Motu PIL regarding the contamination and degradation of Bharalu river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra river.

The High Court has registered the Suo Motu PIL on the basis of letter forwarded by Pratap Chandra Das, a former student of Sonaram Higher Secondary School, Guwahati.

Das stated in his letter that the Bharalu river has been severely polluted due to hazardous waste materials being dumped into the river, posing a risk to the society’s health and hygiene.

He also claimed that none of the civic bodies tasked with maintaining the health and hygiene of Guwahati’s city dwellers had bothered to implement proper interventional measures on the river’s devastating and perilous pollution.

A division bench of Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Suman Shyam issued notice to the following authorities:

• The State of Assam
• The Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Assam
• The Chief Executive Officer, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority
• The Commissioner, Guwahati Municipal Corporation
• The Member Secretary, Pollution Control Board, Assam

The matter is listed for further consideration on 18^th May, 2023.