The Hindu : National : Apex court expresses concern over big spending on Ganga Action Plan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 25, 2007
ePaper


<![if lt IE 4]> <script src="http://servedbyadbutler.com/adserve/;ID=150167;size=468x60;setID=96691;type=js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <noscript> <a href="http://servedbyadbutler.com/go2/;ID=150167;size=468x60;setID=96691"> <img src="http://servedbyadbutler.com/adserve.ibs/;ID=150167;size=468x60;setID=96691;type=img" border="0" height="60" width="468" alt=""></a> </noscript><![endif]>

National

National

Apex court expresses concern over big spending on Ganga Action Plan

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for lapses in the implementation of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP), resulting in further deterioration of the water quality.

A Bench, comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice R.V. Raveendran, after perusing the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General for the year ending March 2000, warned the officials of prosecution if they did not account for the expenses of the action plan.

The Bench expressed serious concern that though over Rs. 900 crore was spent on the implementation of the GAP, launched by the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, in 1985, the water quality, instead of improving, had deteriorated and industrial pollution increased manifold.

The Bench found that the States concerned had diverted the funds for other purposes.

Earlier, amicus curiae Krishan Mahajan said Rs. 900 crore had gone down the drain and the quality of water had further deteriorated to the extent of making it unfit for human consumption.

The poor quality of water was responsible for all major diseases. In the absence of a proper implementation mechanism, all efforts to cleanse the Ganga had yielded no results.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National