NGT directs NMCG to identify Budhi Ganga’s origin

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to submit a report identifying the origin of the Budhi Ganga River and trace its entire course until it merges with the Ganga River or one of its tributaries.

The direction came while the tribunal was hearing a case related to alleged encroachment of the Budhi Ganga River in Uttar Pradesh. The NGT had earlier instructed authorities to demarcate the river's floodplain.

In an order dated August 3, which was made public on Wednesday, a bench comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad noted that the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation and Water Resources Department had informed the tribunal that physical demarcation of the river's floodplain and installation of boundary pillars were underway based on a report prepared by the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee, in accordance with the Ganga Rejuvenation Order, 2016.

According to the department's report, installation of boundary pillars across all four reaches of the river's floodplain is expected to be completed by August 30, 2026. It added that 277 boundary pillars have already been installed in Muzaffarnagar district, while more than half of the work has been completed in Meerut and Hapur districts.

The tribunal directed the state authorities to file a fresh progress report at least one week before the next hearing, confirming completion of the floodplain demarcation.

The NGT also took note of the petitioner's submission that the state authorities had incorrectly identified the origin of the Budhi Ganga River. The petitioner claimed to possess an authentic 200-year-old map indicating the river's source and, during earlier proceedings, stated that the Budhi Ganga originates from Devel village in Muzaffarnagar district before flowing to Garhmukteshwar in Hapur district.

The tribunal permitted the petitioner to submit the historical map and other supporting documents to the NMCG within a week.

Directing further examination of the matter, the tribunal said the Director General of the NMCG would assess the material submitted by the petitioner along with other available records and file an affidavit identifying the Budhi Ganga's origin and its complete course until it joins the Ganga River or any of its tributaries.

The affidavit must be submitted at least one week before the next hearing scheduled for October 16.