NGT seeks Govt’s response on plea against new Ganga rules

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a response from the Centre on a petition challenging recent changes to the rules governing the protection of the Ganga.

The National Mission for Clean Ganga and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change are also among the respondents. The green tribunal was hearing a plea alleging that a government notification issued in August 2026 removed the crucial “no construction zone” along the river and its tributaries, which was contrary to the environmental rules.

According to the plea, the new notification is “ultra vires” of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and destroys the original scheme intended to protect the river. A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad noted the claim that the notification amending the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order of 2016 is contrary to the earlier judgments of the tribunal, constitutional courts, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the original notification.