Ganga In West Bengal Declared Unfit For Bathing Due To Untreated Sewage, NGT Warns Of Fines
NDTV
The NGT has warned the West Bengal authorities of potential fines if they fail to demonstrate significant progress in tackling the issue.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a stern warning to authorities in West Bengal after finding the entire stretch of the Ganga River in the state unfit for bathing due to high levels of faecal coliform bacteria. The NGT, a judicial body tasked with environmental protection, observed that a staggering 258.67 million litres per day of untreated sewage is flowing directly into the river, posing a significant health risk.
This alarming discovery came to light during a hearing regarding the ongoing efforts to prevent, control, and reduce pollution in the Ganga River across various states. The NGT was reviewing a report submitted by West Bengal in response to earlier directives aimed at addressing this critical issue.
Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson of the NGT bench, expressed deep concern after examining reports filed by the District Magistrates of several West Bengal districts, including North 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, Nadia, Malda, Hooghly, Purba Burdwan, Howrah, Purba Medinipur, and South 24 Parganas. The reports revealed a lack of adequate sewage treatment facilities across the state, with some districts, like Purba Medinipur, shockingly lacking even a single Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).
