Chhattisgarh High Court Mandates Expert-Driven Oversight for River Conservation
Raipur: In a significant move to bolster river conservation efforts, the Chhattisgarh High Court has underscored the critical need for expert-driven oversight in the revival of river origin points. The court has directed the state government to expand its state-level committee by inducting specialists, including ecologists, hydrologists, geologists, and pollution control experts, to ensure scientific assessment and monitoring of restoration projects.
Court Directs Inclusion of Specialists in Committee
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal issued this directive on Monday during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Arvind Kumar Shukla and others concerning the conservation of the Arpa and other major rivers in Chhattisgarh. The court ordered the inclusion of an ecologist, a geologist, a hydrologist, and representatives from the Pollution Control Board and the Central Ground Water Survey Board to enhance scientific monitoring of the initiatives.
State Government's Current Efforts and Committee Structure
In compliance with previous court orders, the Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary submitted a personal affidavit detailing the measures initiated for identifying and protecting river origin points. The affidavit revealed that a state-level committee was constituted on February 20, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. This committee includes secretaries from key departments such as Finance, Panchayat and Rural Development, Water Resources, Forest and Climate Change, Urban Administration, and Mineral Resources. Currently, Dr. M. K. Verma, former Vice Chancellor of Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University, serves as the sole expert member.
Scope of Conservation Projects and Monitoring
The committee is tasked with overseeing district-level panels headed by respective Collectors. These panels focus on reviving major rivers across the state, including the Mahanadi, Shivnath, Hasdeo, Arpa, Tandula, Pairi, Mand, Kelo, Son, Tipan, and Leelagar. A review meeting held on March 11, 2026, confirmed that the origin points of these rivers have been identified. Collectors have been instructed to:
- Demarcate origin points and install public displays within 15 days.
- Submit geo-tagged photographs and land records for official designation of these sites.
- Prepare detailed project reports for developing these points as sites of ecological and tourism significance.
Funding and Technical Support for Conservation
The state government has resolved to seek technical advice from the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) for scientific planning. Funding for these conservation activities will be mobilized through multiple sources, including District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds, MGNREGA, Swachh Bharat Mission, and grants from the 15th Finance Commission. The plan also includes mandatory treatment of sewage and industrial waste before discharge into river bodies to prevent pollution.
Petitioners' Arguments and Court's Final Directive
While acknowledging the state's efforts, the petitioners argued that more experts were necessary to assess the effectiveness of these measures. Agreeing with this contention, the High Court directed the Chief Secretary to file a fresh affidavit by May 7, 2026, regarding the inclusion of the additional experts in the committee. This move aims to ensure that river conservation projects are guided by robust scientific expertise, enhancing their potential for long-term success and environmental sustainability.
