Petitioner directed to submit counter affidavit in PIL regarding sewage draining in Ganga
Wednesday, 19 October 2022 | PNS | NAINITAL
Hearing on a public interest litigation regarding alleged anomalies in the sewage treatment plant in Haridwar and untreated sewage being dumped in the Ganga river there, the Uttarakhand High Court has directed the petitioner to submit a counter affidavit in the court. The matter was taken up for hearing by the division bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice RC Khulbe on Tuesday.
According to the case details, Ratanmani Dobhal had filed the PIL in the High Court. It states that budget was released for three sewerage projects under the Irrigation department in Haridwar district. The cost of the NABARD approved project is Rs 2365 lakh while the cost of Central Government sponsored Ganga Flood Control Commission project is Rs 2260 lakh. The petitioner further states that Rs 695 lakh Subhashgad irrigation canal under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme is also to be constructed. The petition contends that despite such considerable sums being spent, the said projects are incomplete and that untreated sewage is being drained into the Ganga river in Haridwar. The petitioner has also submitted inquiry reports regarding two projects in the court which state that irregularities were committed by the then engineers and others in the projects. This has been confirmed in the chief engineer’s inquiry.
