State PCS - Bihar (BPSC)

• 14 Apr 2025

Illegal construction on the banks of Ganga

Why in discussion?  

The Supreme Court has recently directed the Central and Bihar governments to submit a status report on the steps taken to remove illegal constructions on the banks of river Ganga . 

Key Points 

•  About the issue:  
  • The order was passed while hearing a petition filed by a petitioner against the June 30, 2020 order of  the National Green Tribunal (NGT). 
  • The petitioner submitted that there is large-scale illegal encroachment on the banks of the river Ganga.
  • This is adversely affecting the natural flow and ecosystem of the river . 
  • The Ganga riverbank are rich in freshwater dolphins. These dolphins are extremely important for the climate and environment and the impact of illegal constructions on their habitats can harm the biodiversity of the river. 

National Green Tribunal  

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established on 18 October 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. 
• With the establishment of the NGT, India became the third (and the first developing) country in the world to establish a Specialised Environmental Tribunal . Prior to this, only Australia and New Zealand had established such a body. 
• The main purpose of establishing NGT is to resolve environmental issues quickly, so that the burden of cases in the courts of the country can be reduced. 
• The headquarter of NGT is in Delhi, while the other four regional offices are located in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai. 
• As per the National Green Tribunal Act, it is mandatory for the NGT to resolve environmental issues coming to it within 6 months. 

The River Ganges  

• It originates from the Gangotri Glacier near Gaumukh (3,900 m) in Uttarakhand where it is known as the Bhagirathi. 
• The Bhagirathi meets the Alaknanda at Devprayag; thereafter it is known as the Ganga. 
• The Ganga enters the northern plains at Haridwar. 
• The Ganga flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. 
• The Yamuna and the Son are the major right bank tributaries and the important left bank tributaries are the Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi and Mahananda. 
• The Yamuna is the westernmost and longest tributary of the Ganges and has its source in the Yamunotri glacier. 
• The Ganga falls into the Bay of Bengal near Sagar Island.