Aishwarya. K, LL.M., Dr. Ambedkar Law College, Pudupakkam, Chennai Ashif Mohamed. M- Practising Advocate, Madurai
GANGA AND ITS HOLINESS:
Ganga River was considered to be its holiness as it is strongly believed that “One who has drunk its pure water would indeed obtain the highest abode”. It is believed that river Ganga is considered in some extent as even goddess and many people from different parts of the country just come to cleanse and absolve their sins by getting a dip in the river Ganga. Not just about spiritually even environmentally speaking it is life-giving and life sustaining in respect of ecological concerns. The largest river basin that supports 43% of total India’s population. Out of India’s total river pollution renewable water availability of 1,869 Km3/yr, the national river Ganga Basin’s share is 525 Km3/yr. Passing through five states, the Ganga covers 26 per cent of the country’s landmass. Despite the enormous amounts of money spent on cleaning it, the river continues to run polluted. Worse, the pollution is increasing even in stretches that were earlier considered clean. 1
IDENTIFYING GANGA RIVER POLLUTION:
Domestic sewage is the major cause of pollution in the river. The primary case concerning river Ganga was the discharge of trade effluents into the drains which were dumped finally into the river ganga. In the analyses of the trade effluent it was found to be contaminating than the level prescribed. Based on this case GAP I and II post which National Ganga river basin authority along with other 39 industries which includes sugar industry were impleaded as respondents. Other than a committee constituted to analyse this case, the expert members of the tribunal also visited the industries and found that the industries are polluting to a large extent and further found that they were operating without State Pollution Control Board’s prior permission, whereby this case was disposed in the year 2014 by imposing Rs.5 crores upon all those industries additionally issued directions for prevention and control of pollution. In 2014,
1 M.C. Mehta Vs. Union of India, O.A. 200 (2014), National Green Tribunal.Principal Bench, New DelhiPage: 3798
Indian Journal of Law and Legal Research Volume VI Issue III | ISSN: 2582-8878
Along with the reports of this case and M.C.Mehta case was transferred to the tribunal whereby the tribunal gave directions to the Central Pollution Control Board to segregate the industries as Seriously Polluting industries, Grossly polluting industries and not seriously polluting industries as red, orange and green to be displayed in the website.2
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