NGT raps Ganga Mission for non-compliance

The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday rapped the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) for not filing a compliance report pertaining to the steps taken by the authorities for cleaning the river.

Coming down heavily on the NMCG for non-compliance of previous orders, the Bench, headed by NGT acting chairperson Jawad Rahim, said, “We had asked you to file an additional document on April 3 about steps taken by various authorities, including setting up of treatment plants. What did you do in this time? Why have you not complied with our order?”

The Bench had earlier asked the NMCG to file a report on the steps taken by the State governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the Centre to clean the river in the stretch between Gomukh and Unnao.

“We are not bothered about your meetings and impleadment. We are bothered about our order of compliance. We want compliance,” the Bench said.

The green panel directed the NMCG to file the compliance report by May 23.

Records summoned

The Bench has also summoned records from the Eastern Bench of the NGT to deal with a similar matter pertaining to the rejuvenation of the river between Bihar and West Bengal.

Earlier, the panel had asked the NMCG to file an additional statement pertaining to the claims put forth by the Central Pollution Control Board and the U.P. Pollution Control Board.