New Delhi

The National Green Tribunal has sought an explanation from the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) for permitting the tapping of a tributary of the river Ganga in Varanasi, allegedly in violation of statutory provisions.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel was hearing a plea filed by advocate Saurabh Tiwari concerning the discharge of domestic sewage and untreated industrial effluents into the Ganga.

In its order dated February 5, the tribunal took note of a pollution abatement plan submitted by the Uttar Pradesh government titled ‘Abatement and control of pollution by discharge of sewage and industrial effluent in river Ganga and its tributaries in Varanasi’.

The bench observed that the plan listed partially tapped and untapped drains in Varanasi and Chandauli that eventually meet the Ganga and Varuna rivers. It further noted that the river Asi had been described as a drain in the document.

“The river Asi is admittedly a tributary of the river Ganga and, under the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016, tapping of a tributary is not permissible,” the tribunal said.

The bench recorded the submission of the state government’s counsel that the tapping of the river Asi had been allowed by the NMCG. It directed the mission to explain how such permission was granted despite the restrictions under the 2016 order.

The tribunal also expressed concern over the permanent tapping of stormwater drains, stating that such measures were impermissible as they could adversely impact river ecology.

With regard to sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Varanasi, the tribunal observed that since untreated sewage was being diverted to these facilities through stormwater drains, there was a strong possibility that the STPs had been established within the Ganga floodplain.

It directed the NMCG to place on record the material relied upon to demonstrate that the STPs were not located in the floodplain zone.

The green body further asked the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a clear timeline for achieving 100 per cent household connectivity to the sewage network in Varanasi.

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Granting six weeks to the state government and the NMCG to file updated progress reports, the tribunal listed the matter for further hearing on April 21.