NGT Seeks Detailed Report from NMCG on Delays in Clean Ganga Mission Project

The National Green Tribunal has directed the National Mission for Clean Ganga to submit a comprehensive report within four weeks on the issues arising from delayed expenditures under the Clean Ganga Mission after taking suo motu cognisance of a news report published in The Hindu.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Dr A Senthil Vel, examined the concerns highlighted in the report regarding the extremely slow pace of project related spending across States connected to the Ganga river system and sought clarity from the NMCG on multiple compliance and operational issues involving sewage management, stormwater infrastructure and floodplain protection.

The matter arose from a news item titled Clean Ganga mission head flags extremely slow pace of project expenditures, which appeared on 19.08.2024 and prompted the Tribunal to register the case on its own motion. During the hearing, counsel for the NMCG informed the Tribunal that the Mission has already sought reports from all States and State Pollution Control Boards through which the Ganga and its tributaries flow.

The counsel submitted that responses from the States and SPCBs are still awaited and requested four weeks’ time to consolidate the information and file a complete status report addressing the issues mentioned in the news report.

The Tribunal recorded this submission and directed that the report must not only address financial expenditure and progress but must also include critical clarifications regarding the tapping of stormwater drains. The Tribunal observed that if stormwater drains are tapped as a permanent measure and linked with sewage drains, it could severely compromise the stormwater discharge network.

The Tribunal expressed concern that such tapping may cause stormwater drains to overflow, especially during heavy rainfall. It further noted that linking sewage drains with stormwater drains may result in violations of earlier court directions that prohibit the discharge of sewage into stormwater systems. The Tribunal stated that such practices also burden sewage treatment plants beyond capacity during rainy seasons and increase the risk of untreated sewage entering rivers and natural watercourses.

The Tribunal therefore directed the NMCG to clarify in its report whether stormwater drain tapping is being permitted, approved or used in any part of the Ganga basin as a permanent solution and if so, what safeguards and legal permissions exist for such measures.

The Tribunal also directed the NMCG to provide clear disclosures regarding the construction and location of sewage treatment plants in floodplain areas along the Ganga and its tributaries. The Tribunal observed that the floodplain is a sensitive hydrological and ecological zone and any construction of STPs on the floodplain or its immediate stretch must be carefully examined.

The Tribunal required the NMCG to state whether any STP has been permitted on the floodplain of the Ganga or its tributaries and whether any such STP has been financed by the NMCG as part of its river rejuvenation initiatives. The Tribunal also ordered the NMCG to disclose the stretches of the Ganga river system where floodplains have already been demarcated by the concerned authorities.

This information is expected to help the Tribunal determine whether any existing sewage infrastructure falls within ecologically restricted zones and whether suitable corrective measures are required.

The Tribunal stated that these disclosures must be included in the comprehensive report that the NMCG is required to file within four weeks. After the report is received, the Tribunal will examine compliance, financial utilisation patterns and environmental safeguards. The Tribunal fixed the next hearing for 10.02.2026 for further consideration of the matter. The directions are of particular importance because the Clean Ganga Mission has several components involving pollution reduction, sewage treatment, urban drainage management and environmental protection across multiple States. The Tribunal’s directions signal the need for improved coordination between the NMCG, State agencies, pollution control boards and local bodies.

The Tribunal emphasised that the issues raised in the news report concerning extremely slow expenditure on approved projects require urgent administrative and technical clarity.

The direction to examine stormwater drain tapping and floodplain STP construction indicates the Tribunal’s focus on preventing practices that could undermine river rejuvenation efforts. The matter has been listed for compliance after the NMCG files its report.

Counsels Appearing: For Respondents - Gigi. C. George, Adv. for NMCG, Vikrant N. Goyal, Adv. for CPCB, Asha Gopalan Nair, Advocate for MoEF & CC

Case Title: News Item titled “Clean Ganga mission head flags extremely slow pace of project expenditures”

Bench: Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Dr A Senthil Vel

Order Date: 10.11.2025