New Delhi: Expressing concern with plastics polluting water ecosystems, the Supreme Court of India said that the dumping of plastic was causing serious environment degradation and also impacting aquatic life in the river banks and the water bodies in the country.
A bench of Justice Hrishkesh Roy and Justice SVN Bhatti recently said, “Unless concerted effort is made by authorities with people’s cooperation, irrespective of the efforts to target illegal/unauthorized constructions, the desired improvement of the quality of the water in river Ganga/all other rivers and water bodies in the country will remain illusory.”
Petitioner sought action against illegal constructions, permanent encroachments in eco-sensitive Ganga floodplains in Patna
These remarks by the court came while hearing a petition filed by a resident of Patna who sought action against illegal constructions and permanent encroachments in eco-sensitive Ganga floodplains in Patna.
What did the petitioner say?
Sinha in his petition has also submitted that due to illegal construction in Ganga flood plains was obstructing the natural course of the river in the city and there was a risk to life and property of the dwellers, since the areas go down under flood waters every year. The petition also says that because of the unauthorised construction large amount of pollutants were being discharged into the river which was also impacting the rich biodiversity and habitat of Dolphins in Ganga.
The bench also observed that “during the course of hearing it came to light that there is wide spread use of plastic in the areas which are to be kept free from such pollution potential products. The dumping of plastic is causing serious environment degradation and also impacting aquatic life in the river banks and the water bodies in the country.”
Apex Court has directed Centre to file an affidavit on the issue of encroachments on flood plains and plastic pollution
The court has now directed the government of India to file an affidavit on the issue of encroachments on flood plains and plastic pollution within 4 weeks.
Earlier, in the same petition, the Supreme court had sought a report on the ground level situation as regards particulars of existing constructions on the floodplains of the river Ganga in Patna.
Subsequently, the Bihar Government had informed the court that it had identified 213 unauthorised construction adjacent to the river Ganga in and around Patna and steps have been taken to remove these encroachments/constructions.