New Delhi: The Supreme Court has expressed grave concerns about the rampant dumping of plastic and other waste materials into water bodies, emphasizing the severe environmental degradation and harm to aquatic life caused by such pollution.

Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti, in their August 2 order, warned that without a unified effort from authorities and public cooperation, efforts to tackle illegal constructions and enhance water quality in rivers, including the Ganga, will be futile. The bench stated, "The dumping of plastic is causing significant environmental damage and impacting aquatic life along riverbanks and in water bodies across the country. Unless responsible authorities and the public collaborate effectively, improvements in water quality in the Ganga and other rivers will remain an illusion."

The court has granted additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Union of India and the National Mission for Clean Ganga, four weeks to submit an affidavit addressing the environmental concerns raised. Additionally, the court has instructed Bihar, represented by advocate Azmat Hayat Amanullah, to provide an affidavit within the same timeframe detailing actions taken to address unauthorized constructions along the Ganga in and around Patna.

The court's directive came after advocate Akash Vashishtha, representing petitioner Ashok Kumar Sinha, highlighted the issue of indiscriminate plastic dumping in the Ganga and other water bodies. Vashishtha urged the bench to safeguard India’s natural resources from the dual threats of plastic pollution and unauthorized construction.

This order follows a December 1, 2023, directive requiring the Bihar government to identify and remove unauthorized constructions near the Ganga. The state reported identifying 213 such illegal constructions, with removal efforts in progress.

On August 2, the Bihar government sought clarification of the 2023 order, which had mandated a halt to all construction adjacent to the Ganga, especially around Patna. Bhati and Amanullah pointed out that the original wording might be misunderstood, as it did not specify that only unauthorized and illegal constructions were to be addressed.

The bench accepted this clarification request, reaffirming that “no further illegal construction or unauthorized encroachment shall take place adjacent to the river Ganga, particularly in and around Patna.” The scope of Sinha’s petition was expanded to address growing concerns about the environmental health of rivers and water bodies, with the court demanding detailed affidavits from both the Union government and the state.

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