The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has fined Jharkhand ₹25,000 for failing to submit a report on the prevention and control of pollution in the Ganga river. The tribunal has taken a serious stance on pollution in the Ganga and its tributaries across the country. Last November, it had sought specific information on Ganga pollution from the Chief Secretaries of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
The Ganga river flows through Sahibganj district in Jharkhand. Mentioning the lack of a report from Jharkhand, NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Srivastava expressed disappointment, stating that neither the District Magistrates (who are heads of the District Ganga Protection Committees) nor the Chief Secretary has responded to the tribunal’s orders or the Chief Secretary’s letter.
Justice Srivastava remarked that currently, they are taking a lenient approach and imposing a symbolic fine of ₹25,000, to be deposited by Jharkhand within a week. The state government will have a waiver to recover this amount from defaulting District Magistrates, and the report will be submitted to the tribunal. The NGT had given a deadline of four weeks to the concerned District Magistrates in its order issued on February 20 to provide the relevant information. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for April 10.
