Can River Pollution Go To NGT?

Answer:

Yes, river pollution is a strong NGT matter because rivers are public natural resources and pollution affects water quality, public health, aquatic life, groundwater recharge, agriculture, and ecology. River pollution may occur because of untreated sewage, industrial effluent, chemical discharge, solid waste dumping, plastic waste, drain discharge, religious waste, illegal construction, sand mining, slaughterhouse discharge, or failure of sewage treatment plants.

A proper NGT case should identify the river stretch, exact location, source of pollution, responsible authority, and environmental impact. For example, the source may be a municipal drain, failed STP, industry, hotel, colony, landfill, or private dumping point. The applicant should collect photos, videos, water sample reports if available, complaint copies, inspection requests, and location evidence.

Authorities commonly added in river pollution matters include the State Pollution Control Board, CPCB, Municipal Corporation, District Magistrate, Jal Board or Jal Nigam, Irrigation Department, local body, and private polluters. In Ganga-related matters, NMCG may also be added.

CPCB’s principal pollution-control functions include promotion of cleanliness of streams and wells through prevention, control and abatement of water pollution, and improvement of air quality through prevention and control of air pollution. NGT can direct inspection, sampling, compensation, restoration, and compliance where river pollution raises a substantial environmental question.