Ghaziabad: The National Green Tribunal has directed the constitution of a committee to prepare a short-term and a long-term plan within two weeks to stop illegal drain water finding its way into Upper Ganga canal, thereby contaminating groundwater and water bodies in Niwari area. The plan would entail suggesting action for stopping the pollution, reversing the damage caused, and prosecuting the offenders.The case dates back to March 2017, when a resident, Vivek Tyagi, filed a case in NGT alleging that Niwari nagar panchayat has illegally constructed a drainage system to Upper Ganga canal belonging to UP irrigation department. In the absence of no treatment facility for treating domestic waste water, the illegal drainage system serves as a channel to carry waste water into Upper Ganga canal, thereby polluting it and other water bodies. The NGT had then directed Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, irrigation department, nagar panchayat and the representative of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam to conduct a joint inspection, the report of which was filed in April 2017.However, not satisfied by the report, the NGT again in July this year directed the Central Pollution Control Board and UP Pollution Control Board to carry out a joint inspection on the quality of ground water and surface water. The finding confirmed the heavy presence of heavy metals in handpumps in the form of iron and manganese. With regard to the water quality of Upper Ganga Canal, the report said: ‘The total coliform is 92x104 upstream and 21x103 downstream, fecal xoliform is found to be 4.0x103 upstream and 17x103 downstream against the permissible limit of less than 2500 MPN/100 ml and 500 MPN/100 ml respectively.’It is the same Upper Ganga Canal, the water of which is channelled into Pratap Vihar Ganga Jal water treatment plant, which is later supplied to Ghaziabad, Noida and other places as Ganga water.Based on these findings, the NGT had on September 28 ordered formation of a joint committee of director of local bodies and chief engineer, irrigation department to prepare short-term and long-term action plan within two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The NGT further asked the committee to submit the plan by December 15 which is also to be marked to secretary, urban development, Union government.

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