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Saraswati River Clean-Up: A Two-Year Battle Against Pollution
4 Feb
Summary
- River clean-up to take nearly two years after project approvals.
- State government filed an affidavit on Nov 20, 2025, to NGT.
- Activist alleges long-standing non-compliance with environmental norms.
The state government has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that a significant clean-up operation for the Saraswati river is in progress. This vital river, which flows through Hooghly and Howrah districts before merging with the Ganges, has suffered extensive damage from sewage discharge and solid waste dumping.
In response to an NGT order dated November 20, 2025, the chief secretary filed an affidavit detailing the initiated measures. These steps aim to prevent further pollution and halt encroachment along the river's course. The tribunal's bench heard the action-taken report concerning the case brought forth by environmental activist Subhas Datta.
Mr. Datta, however, expressed dissatisfaction, alleging a lack of accountability and several years of non-compliance with environmental directives. He described the submitted affidavit as containing unrelated information, highlighting ongoing challenges in the river's restoration efforts. The comprehensive clean-up is estimated to take nearly two years after project approvals.
