SC halts NGT order imposing Rs 50,000 cost on Bihar

New Delhi

The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order imposing a Rs 50,000 penalty on the Bihar government for failing to comply with directives related to controlling pollution in the Ganga River. The NGT had passed this order on October 15 last year, after Bihar's government failed to assist in addressing the pollution issue adequately.

The tribunal also instructed the Bihar Chief Secretary to appear virtually and update them on the state's progress in tackling Ganga's pollution. In response, the Bihar government filed a plea challenging the NGT's decision. A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih heard the case and issued a notice to the Centre and other concerned parties, requesting responses within four weeks. The bench also stayed the NGT's order until further instructions.

The NGT has been examining the pollution issue of the Ganga River and its tributaries state by state, focusing on water quality concerns. In its order, the tribunal pointed out that Bihar had not submitted the required water sample analysis reports from key locations where Ganga’s tributaries merge with the river. The state also failed to comply with earlier orders.

The tribunal had also directed Bihar’s Chief Secretary to present an update on the actions taken by the state government regarding Ganga's pollution control and the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management) Authorities Order 2016.