Despite ban, plastic waste is still being thrown in Ganga and Yamuna: Petitioner tells Allahabad HC

In a batch of Public Interest Litigations pertaining to river pollution in Uttar Pradesh which is pending before the Allahabad High Court, the petitioner raised the issue of plastic bags and bottles still being thrown in rivers Ganga and Yamuna.

The petitioner submitted before the bench of Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal, Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Ajit Kumar that the drains in Prayagraj are chocked with such plastics and many of the drains are discharged along with this waste in the river Ganga.

The petitioner also raised concerns regarding the arrangement by the city administration in view of upcoming festival of Magh-Mela at Prayagraj which is about to start on January 14, 2023.

Court noted that this issue had been already touched in orders passed on October 29, 2021 and November 12, 2021.

Court pointed out that in the order passed on November 12, 2021 it was recorded that the Commissioner, Prayagraj had constituted a Committee consisting of A.D.M. City, Prayagraj, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Nagar Nigam, Prayagraj and Superintendent of Police (City), Prayagraj to oversee implementation of the ban on plastic carry bags in pursuance of the Government Order dated July 15, 2018.

"However..., no effective steps have been taken to stop the use of plastic for which the order was issued on July 15, 2018, the court observed.

Court, therefore, constituted four teams of young lawyers who were present in the Court including law students who were on the internship in the Court, to make survey regarding the implementation of the aforesaid orders passed by this Court.

Court ordered that all four teams will themselves ascertain different areas of the city to inspect and observe the implementation of the aforesaid orders and submit their separate reports in writing in the Court.

Case Title: Re Ganga Pollution v. State of U.P. and others