Hardly anything done to clean Ganga, situation extraordinarily bad: NGT
What's the story
The NGT today expressed dissatisfaction over the cleaning up of Ganga and said the situation was extraordinarily bad and hardly anything effective has been done to clean the river. A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice AK Goel said despite claims by the authorities, the work done on the ground for Ganga rejuvenation wasn't adequate and regular monitoring was required to improve the situation.
Ganga pollution
Green panel seeks common man's views on Ganga pollution
The NGT ordered a survey to seek views of common man about what he feels on the ground about the pollution in Ganga and said the feedback could be given through e-mail of the authorities concerned. "It's the most prestigious river... but we are unable to protect it. Let us try to make the mechanism as strong and effective as possible," the bench said.
Expenditure
Government spent Rs. 7,000cr to 'clean' Ganga in 2 years
The NGT had earlier rapped National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) for not filing a compliance report on the steps taken by the Center and the UP and Uttarakhand governments to clean the river Ganga in the stretch between Gomukh and Unnao. It said the government has spent over Rs. 7,000cr in 2-years to clean the Ganga which still remains a "serious environmental issue".
Information
NGT passed slew of measures to rejuvenate Ganga
The green panel, in a detailed judgment, had passed a slew of directions to rejuvenate Ganga, declaring as "No Development Zone" an area of 100m from the edge of the river between Haridwar and Unnao and prohibiting dumping of waste within 500m from the river.