The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought responses from the National Mission for Clean Ganga, the district magistrate of Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, and others regarding the deteriorating condition of the Adi Ganga Gomti river flowing through the district.
The NGT took suo motu (on its own) cognisance of a media report highlighting the drying up of the river and its chemical pollution, which led to the death of a significant number of fish.
“The news item raises a substantial issue relating to compliance with environmental norms, particularly the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Environment Protection Act,” said the green panel.
A bench pf NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel, impleaded several authorities as parties, including the district magistrate and the director of the NMCG. Other authorities named include the member secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Lucknow regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
“Issue notice to the above respondents for filing their response at least one week before the next date of hearing (on October 8),” the tribunal ordered.
