The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a response from the Centre over a petition challenging recent changes to rules governing the protection of the Ganga river. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, along with expert member Afroz Ahmad, took note of the notification issued earlier this month, allegedly removing the crucial no-construction zone along the river and its tributaries.
The green tribunal observed that the change was alleged to be contrary to existing environmental rules, earlier judgements of the NGT and constitutional courts, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the original notification.
It has been argued before the NGT that the amended notification removed the no-construction provision contained in the original rules and that it wrongly defined active floodplain based on a “one-in-five-year return period” which refers to a flood event that has a 20 per cent probability of occurring in a year. The matter will be heard on the coming 27th October.
