Home / Environment / NGT Demands Report on Saryu River Waste
NGT Demands Report on Saryu River Waste
10 Jul
Summary
- NGT directs DM for status report on river waste in three months.
- Inspection revealed waste along Saryu river on Almora side.
- No sewage discharge into Saryu; water quality meets standards.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has mandated the Almora district magistrate to provide a comprehensive status report within three months. This report should detail all remedial and punitive actions taken concerning the improper disposal of waste along the Saryu river at Sera Ghat. The directive, issued on July 7 by a bench led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, follows a review of an inspection conducted by the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB).
The UKPCB's inspection on February 27 highlighted significant disparities in waste management practices at Sera Ghat. While the Pithoragarh side of the river had a functional solid waste collection shed, the Almora side exhibited a complete absence of adequate municipal waste collection and disposal arrangements. Inspectors observed municipal solid waste scattered near the riverbank on the Almora side.
Despite these findings, the inspection confirmed no direct sewage discharge into the Saryu river. Commercial and residential establishments in the vicinity utilize septic tanks and soak pits for waste management. Furthermore, water samples collected from downstream areas by the UKPCB complied with the Central Pollution Control Board's Class-B water quality standards for designated best use. The Almora administration is now tasked with addressing the reported infrastructure deficiencies and submitting its corrective action plan to the tribunal.
