Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding pollution and encroachment of Saraswati river, West Bengal, 20/01/2025
Order of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of Subhas Datta Vs State of West Bengal & Others dated 20/01/2025.
The application filed by Subhas Datta alleged failure of the authorities to prevent pollution and encroachment of Saraswati river passing through Hooghly and Howrah districts of West Bengal joining Ganga. It was alleged that the water quality of the river had deteriorated on account of continuous uncontrolled pollution through discharge of untreated sewage over a stretch of 50 kilometers and there were encroachments of river banks, blocking the flow of the river.
The bench of Justice B Amit Sthalekar, eastern bench of the NGT directed the Chief Secretary, West Bengal to file an affidavit by May 15, 2025 to address the question regarding removal of encroachments from the entire stretch of the River Saraswati.