The National Green Tribunal on Monday blamed the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Governments for the rising pollution in river Ramganga, a tributary of Ganga. It asked the respective Governments to apprise of the steps taken to prevent discharge of effluents into the river.
An affidavit filed by UP Pollution Control Board, had stated that the level of hazardous substances, including magnesium and chloride, in the tributary was 50 times higher than the permissible limit.
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar, asked the State Governments to inform it about the steps taken to ensure no hazardous substances were discharged in the river.
“If you (UP Government) want to do something there are solutions. You need to find some solutions. You can install Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) at the mouth of the drains connecting the river to prevent the effluent discharge in it... Put up for further hearing on Monday,” it said.
The petitioner contended that brass factories situated on the banks of the river, discharged these substances into it.
Ramganga is one of the major tributaries of river Ganga which originates from Uttarakhand and passes through Moradabad, Bareilly, Badaun, Shahjahanpur and Hardoi cities of Uttar Pradesh located on its banks.
According to the UPPCB affidavit, there are 23 drains in Moradabad which are discharging untreated waste directly into the river. It also said that 120 MlD domestic sewerage was being generated from Bareilly and discharged into Ram Ganga without any treatment.