NGT cracks down on unauthorized construction of Ganga Ghats Haridwar

The NGT issued notices to key authorities, including the Secretary for the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board, National Mission for Clean Ganga, district magistrate for Haridwar, and Ganga Heritage—the Project Proponent in Haridwar.

The NGT has directed that a notice be issued to the Secretary for the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board, the National Mission for Clean Ganga, the District Magistrate for Haridwar, and Ganga Heritage, the Project Proponent in Haridwar.

The District Magistrate has been directed to carry out a spot inspection and file a status report before January 22, 2024. The advertisements by Ganga Heritage, titled “Residential Plots with Private Ganga Ghat Starts 25 Lakhs| NH 34 – 5 minutes”, dated April 27, 2023, and October 30, 2023, were for the residential plots with private ghats on National Highway 34. These plots would be in violation of the River Ganga Rejuvenation, Protection and Management Authorities Order, 2016, which prohibits construction in the riverbed.

The concern arose from advertisements by Ganga Heritage, dated April 27, 2023, and October 30, 2023, promoting residential plots with private ghats along National Highway 34. These plots appear to contravene the River Ganga Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management Authorities Order, 2016, which strictly prohibits construction in the riverbed.

The NGT, in its suo motu application, highlighted the violation of environmental norms and the suspicion that these plots were being developed without proper permissions. This move aligns with the NGT's earlier action (OA No. 102/2023) concerning alleged illegal construction at another location in Beliram Ashram, Kankhal, Haridwar. In that case, a joint committee had been formed.

Violation of Environmental Norms

The original application was registered on the basis of the advertisement revealing that residential plots were being cut in Haridwar on the bank of the Ganga, in violation of the River Ganga Rejuvenation, Protection and Management Authorities Order, 2016, which prohibits construction in the riverbed. It is suspected that these plots are being cut violating the environmental norms without proper permission.

The NGT has already entertained a similar application concerning alleged illegal construction at another location at Beliram Ashram, Kankhal, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, wherein a joint committee has been constituted.

The power of the Tribunal to take up the matter on its own initiative has been recognized by the Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.”

The Tribunal has deemed it proper to implead the following as respondents in the matter: Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board; Member Secretary, Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board; Member Secretary, National Mission for Clean Ganga; District Magistrate, Haridwar; and “Ganga Heritage”, the Project Proponent, Haridwar. Notices have been issued to these respondents. The matter is listed for January 22, 2024.

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