What steps have been taken to eliminate the invasion of the Ganges? Supreme Court inquires about Bihar Centre

The Supreme Court expressed concern, directing the Centre and the Bihar Government to submit identity reports on the steps taken to clear the illegal construction of the Ganges river bank. In addition to the way and time period the authorities proposed to remove them, Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Vishwanathan also tried to know the amount of existing encroachments.

“We want to know what steps the authorities have taken to eliminate all such encroachment on the banks of the Ganges,” the bench said.

The order of April 2 continued: “We instruct Bihar and the Union of India to submit appropriate reports so that we can proceed further.”
The court is hearing a request from Patna resident Ashok Kumar Sinha for the June 30, 2020 NGT order that dismissed his defense of illegal construction and permanent encroachment on the floodplain of the ecological crisis.

His lawyer, Akash Vashishtha, proposed that large-scale illegal and unauthorized construction and encroachment, including housing settlements, brick kilns and other religious structures, were flooding the Ganges.

He added that there was a massive encroachment across the bank and needed immediate attention, noting that some parts of the river bank are rich in freshwater dolphins. The request held that the court passed the order without checking for detailed details of violators who violated the floodplain.

Four weeks later, the top court has released the matter.