Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Himanshu Sharma Vs Union Territory of J & K dated 23/03/2022.

Grievance in the application is against failure to take action to prevent pollution of Ban Ganga river at Katra in Jammu & Kashmir.

The NGT noted that none of the reports filed before the court "addressed issues of adequacy of installed packages of STPs with their performance in terms of quantity and quality of sewage being carried through box drains before being discharged into Ban Ganga, quantity and characteristics of sewage discharged into the river at three points and the water quality of the river with reference to fecal coliform, as the river is used for bathing purpose."

Further, there is a need to ensure proper siting of waste segregation centres at a reasonable distance from the bank of the Ban Ganga river. There is also need to divert sewage effluent from army settlement, shifting of piggery, relocating pony shed or proper management of mule dung bio-gas plant, ensuring that no effluent or slurry or solid waste goes to the river, transportation of bailed recyclable material to authorised points, Bio-mining of 101757 cubic metres legacy waste and regulating encroachments, the NGT order, March 23, 2022 said.

The Tribunal directed the concerned authorities to take remedial action to be overseen by the Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department and the state PCB.