The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of its suo motu cognizance with regard to remediation of polluted rivers for examining the increasing pollution, starting with the issue of contamination of river Yamuna.
The bench of Chief Justice S.A. Bobde, Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian heard the matter and issued notice to the Ministry of Jal Shakti in the matter returnable in 4 weeks.
Earlier, the court directed the National Green Tribunal-appointed Committee to submit its report on River Monitoring in respect of the Yamuna River and also the extent to which its recommendations have been implemented.
On previous occasions, the bench had issued notice to the states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. It also issued notice to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) as well.
The bench appointed Senior Advocate Meenakshi Arora as Amicus Curiae to assist the court in the matter.
The bench also directed the CPCB to submit a report identifying municipalities along the river Yamuna, which have not installed total treatment plants for sewage as per the requirement or have gaps in ensuring that the sewage is not discharged untreated into the river.
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The court took up suo motu cognizance while hearing a petition on the increased ammonia levels in Yamuna due to the discharge of pollutants. It noted that it highlights an issue of great significance and consequence not only for the general public but all living beings dependent upon open surface water.