The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, the Uttar Pradesh government, the Mathura-Vrindavan Municipal Corporation, and other agencies over unchecked pollution in the Yamuna River and illegal constructions along its banks.
Petition Highlights Violations
The action follows a petition filed by Vijay Kishore Goswami of the Braj Vrindavan Devalaya Samiti, who highlighted untreated sewage discharge, industrial waste dumping, and encroachments in the river's floodplains. Despite the NGT's 2021 directions to improve sewage treatment, remove encroachments, and protect the river ecosystem, violations allegedly continue unabated.
Evidence Submitted
The petitioner submitted a 95-page affidavit containing water quality reports and geo-tagged photographs showing drains discharging directly into the river and ongoing construction activities. Counsel Akash Vashishtha informed the tribunal that the Yamuna remains classified as ‘Category D’ under Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) norms, rendering it unfit for bathing or domestic use.
NGT Seeks Responses
The NGT has sought detailed replies from multiple agencies, including the CPCB, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority (MVDA), Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad, and the National Mission for Clean Ganga. The next hearing is scheduled for August.
This development underscores the ongoing struggle to restore the Yamuna's health, as pollution and encroachments persist despite judicial directives.
