Kumbh 2019: NGT bans commercial activities within 100 metres of Ganga in UP

Leasing, auction, encroachments, anti-pollution activities to be deemed illegal; state irrigation and urban development depts named nodal agencies

India’s green watchdog, National Green Tribunal (NGT), has banned all development and commercial activities near river Ganga between Bijnore district and Unnao-Kanpur region in Uttar Pradesh.

In its directive, NGT has declared the area falling within 100-metre periphery on either side of Ganga as ‘no development/no construction zone’ with the result that any commercial activity, leasing, auction, encroachments, and anti-pollution activities would be deemed illegal.

In the run-up to Kumbh Mela 2019 during Jan-March, the central and state agencies have raised the level of pollution control monitoring and checks for ensuring a cleaner Ganga. More than 120 million pilgrims and tourists are expected to congregate in Prayagraj (Allahabad) during the almost two-month-long Hindu religious festival, which the government wants to brand internationally as a mega global tourism event.

The watchdog has designated UP irrigation and urban development departments as the nodal agencies to ensure that the directives are complied with. It has ordered that the area be treated and conserved as Ganga flood plains, while all such activities be immediately stopped or shifted.

A monitoring meeting to review the implementation of the order be held every month at the state level. The respective district magistrates have been mandated to ensure that the directive is adhered to through various departments, including urban development and local bodies. The officials would also mark the 100 metre territory with conspicuous messages.

Issuance of any no-objection certificate (NoC) or approval of development plan/map has also been prohibited pertaining to the zone. Any prospective loss occurring to any property in the Ganga flood plain would not be compensated by the government, while any economic loss would be recouped from the violators, who would be not be entitled to any government welfare scheme, including ration card, power connection, and water connection.

If the squatters do not remove their encroachments willingly then the respective development authority/industrial development authority or municipality are authorised to take effective action. The respective police chiefs have been directed to take appropriate action as needed in such cases, while the concerned officials have been warned against laxity and slackness in discharging their duty.

Earlier, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had ordered for the closure of leather and tannery units in Kanpur between December 15 and March 15 to ensure that effluents were not discharged in Ganga.

Besides, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had also directed the sugar mills in UP to ensure zero effluents discharge in the Ganga Basin. Of the total 119 state sugar mills, comprising both government and private units, 39 mills or roughly 35%, fall in the catchment of river Ganga.

In August 2018, NGT had mandated CPCB to impose ‘environmental compensation’ penalty of Rs 50,000 per day on factories flouting pollution norms across industries, including sugar mills.