New Delhi, The National Green Tribunal has directed Uttar Pradesh to take "effective and prompt measures" and prepare a time-bound action plan to ensure minimum discharge of sewage into the Ganga and Yamuna at Prayagraj before the Kumbh Mela.
He also directed the authorities concerned to ensure that the water quality of the rivers was maintained at the level of drinking quality and its suitability was displayed to the pilgrims through the bathing ghats.
The court was hearing a matter related to availability of drinking water during the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj amid claims of sewage discharge into the two rivers.
A bench of National Green Tribunal chief justice Prakash Shrivastava noted that an earlier panel had submitted a report on untapped drains linking the Ganga and Yamuna, sewage treatment plants (STPs) with their capacity utilization, the sewer network and the treatment gap.
"A careful reading of the above report clearly reveals that there are as many as 44 untapped drains discharging raw sewage into the river Ganga and the report further reveals that there are 81 drains in the city and these drains discharge 289.97 million liters per day . (MLD) of wastewater and that the wastewater received through the sewerage network in the existing 10 STPs amounts to 178.31 MLD," said the bench, also comprising Justice AK Tyagi and expert member A Senthil. Vel.
In an order passed on July 1, the court also said that as per the report, untapped drains were discharging 73.80 MLD of sewage and the gap in treatment capacity was 128.28 MLD.
Expressing its displeasure, the court said: "The report does not reflect that during the upcoming Kumbh Mela any effective progress will be made to prevent the discharge of 73.80 MLD of untreated sewage into the river Ganga through untapped drains, which is 44".
The court took note of the submissions of counsel for Uttar Pradesh that 17 of the 44 untapped drains were connected to the existing STPs in November.
"Considering the fact that the pilgrims or visitors of the Kumbh Mela will bathe in the rivers Ganga and Yamuna and use their water for drinking etc., we are of the opinion that all possible, effective and expeditious measures should be taken and necessary prepare a time-bound action plan to ensure minimum discharge or cessation of sewage discharge into rivers Ganga and Yamuna before the commencement of the Kumbh Mela,” the green panel said.
He gave the State eight weeks to present a new report on progress.
"The authorities concerned shall ensure that the quality of water of the rivers is maintained at the level of drinking quality and its suitability shall be displayed to the pilgrims or visitors of the Kumbh Mela at various bathing ghats," the court said.
The matter has been remanded to September 23 for further proceedings.
He also directed the authorities concerned to ensure that the water quality of the rivers was maintained at the level of drinking quality and its suitability was displayed to the pilgrims through the bathing ghats.
The court was hearing a matter related to availability of drinking water during the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj amid claims of sewage discharge into the two rivers.
A bench of National Green Tribunal chief justice Prakash Shrivastava noted that an earlier panel had submitted a report on untapped drains linking the Ganga and Yamuna, sewage treatment plants (STPs) with their capacity utilization, the sewer network and the treatment gap.
"A careful reading of the above report clearly reveals that there are as many as 44 untapped drains discharging raw sewage into the river Ganga and the report further reveals that there are 81 drains in the city and these drains discharge 289.97 million liters per day . (MLD) of wastewater and that the wastewater received through the sewerage network in the existing 10 STPs amounts to 178.31 MLD," said the bench, also comprising Justice AK Tyagi and expert member A Senthil. Vel.
In an order passed on July 1, the court also said that as per the report, untapped drains were discharging 73.80 MLD of sewage and the gap in treatment capacity was 128.28 MLD.
Expressing its displeasure, the court said: "The report does not reflect that during the upcoming Kumbh Mela any effective progress will be made to prevent the discharge of 73.80 MLD of untreated sewage into the river Ganga through untapped drains, which is 44".
The court took note of the submissions of counsel for Uttar Pradesh that 17 of the 44 untapped drains were connected to the existing STPs in November.
"Considering the fact that the pilgrims or visitors of the Kumbh Mela will bathe in the rivers Ganga and Yamuna and use their water for drinking etc., we are of the opinion that all possible, effective and expeditious measures should be taken and necessary prepare a time-bound action plan to ensure minimum discharge or cessation of sewage discharge into rivers Ganga and Yamuna before the commencement of the Kumbh Mela,” the green panel said.
He gave the State eight weeks to present a new report on progress.
"The authorities concerned shall ensure that the quality of water of the rivers is maintained at the level of drinking quality and its suitability shall be displayed to the pilgrims or visitors of the Kumbh Mela at various bathing ghats," the court said.
The matter has been remanded to September 23 for further proceedings.
