Friday, 06 January 2023 | PNS | NAINITAL
The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to submit its reply within one week while hearing on a public interest litigation filed against mining in the Ganga river between Raiwala and Bhogpur. The division bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari issued this direction while hearing on a PIL filed by Matri Sadan against mining in the Ganga. During the hearing on Thursday, the counsel for the NMCG sought one more week to submit its reply to which the court agreed.
It is pertinent to mention here that Haridwar-based Matri Sadan had filed the PIL stating that mining in the Ganga is being carried out between Raiwala and Bhogpur in blatant violation of the rules which is also posing a threat to the existence of the Ganga river. The petitioner has stated that those undertaking mining illegally in the Ganga are working against the NMCG. The petitioner has requested the court to order a stop on the illegal mining in the Ganga so that the river can be protected. The Central Government had formed the NMCG with the aims of ensuring the cleanliness of the Ganga and protecting the river. Despite repeated orders from the NMCG to the State government, the mining in the Ganga river has not stopped, the petition states.
