Offerings Disposal in Ganga & Yamuna: NGT Permits DPCC and UPPCB to File Response within 4 Weeks

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has granted permission to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to submit their responses within four weeks regarding the disposal of worship offerings in rivers Ganga and Yamuna.

The tribunal was addressing a case where it had taken suo motu cognizance of a newspaper report concerning pollution in the two rivers due to the disposal of flowers and garlands offered in worship in polythene bags on their banks.

A bench consisting of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava noted that the DPCC’s counsel had not indicated the committee’s response on the matter.

The bench, which also included judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, observed that the counsel mentioned submitting “a fresh proper response” covering the issue within four weeks.

The bench acknowledged a similar plea from the UPPCB’s counsel to submit its response within four weeks. Granting the request, the bench scheduled the matter for further proceedings on July 3, 2024.