Subarnarekha river pollution, NGT orders action, report still pending

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressed concern about the lack of a compliance report on Subarnarekha River pollution that the court ordered on October 11, 2023. The river, flowing through Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal, is severely polluted, particularly around Jamshedpur.

During an October 3, 2024, hearing, the NGT noticed that local authorities, including the District Magistrate of East Singhbhum, Kapali Municipal Council, Jugsalai Municipal Council, and Adityapur Municipal Corporation, failed to file the necessary report. They have four weeks to respond, with the next hearing on December 17, 2024.

A news report from Avenue Mail about industrial waste polluting the Subarnarekha River had prompted the tribunal to act previously on a suo motu basis. The Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board's survey revealed excessive pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and lead levels in the river. The river spans 450 kilometers and covers 1.93 million hectares.

In its October 2023 order, the NGT directed municipal bodies to establish sewage treatment plants (STPs) by April 2024 to mitigate untreated sewage discharge into the river. Jamshedpur discharges 122 million liters of untreated sewage daily into the Subarnarekha, with similar conditions in Mango and Maubhandar.

Despite these orders, no significant progress has been made, and river pollution worsens. The NGT's directive called for immediate action, but authorities have failed to meet the court's deadlines. The court has expressed frustration at the slow pace, demanding a faster resolution to the issue affecting millions living nearby.

The tribunal's orders emphasized the urgency of establishing STPs in Jamshedpur and surrounding areas to treat millions of liters of untreated sewage discharged into the river. However, local authorities' noncompliance raises concerns about the river's deteriorating state and potential environmental and health impacts.

With the next hearing in December, authorities must submit compliance reports detailing progress on the river's pollution and STP operations. If not, further NGT action is expected.

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