New Delhi: The Supreme Court has now run out of patience regarding illegal constructions built on the banks of river Ganga. In the matter of removal of all unauthorized constructions and encroachments built on the flood plain of Ganga in Patna, the apex court has given the last chance to the Bihar government and has given a strict warning that no further concession will be given after this.
A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Vishwanathan has given the Bihar government eight weeks’ time to comply with its earlier order. The court clearly said that after this period, in the next hearing, the state government will have to present the compliance report of the entire action to remove the encroachment, and if this is not done, contempt action can be taken by directly summoning the Chief Secretary of Bihar and other officials to the court.
The action was stuck due to flood
The court reminded that earlier on July 21, it had given six weeks time to the Bihar government to remove every unauthorized construction present in the flood plain of Ganga between Naujar Ghat to Noorpur Ghat. Bihar Advocate General SD Sanjay told the court that the order has been partially complied with, but due to the recent natural disaster in Nepal, the water level of Ganga suddenly rose, due to which the entire area was submerged in water. Due to this, it became difficult for the officials to carry forward the process of removing encroachment.
“You won’t get any time after this”
Even after considering this clarification, the court took a tough stand and said that it is giving eight weeks’ time for the last time to follow its instructions. The court clearly warned that if the order is not followed this time too, the Chief Secretary of Bihar and other concerned officials will have to appear directly before the court, and further strict action may also be taken.
To which case is this controversy related?
Actually, this entire matter is related to the petition challenging the June 2020 order of the National Green Tribunal i.e. NGT, in which the NGT had rejected the petition filed against illegal construction and permanent encroachment in the environmentally sensitive flood plain of the Ganga.
It will be mandatory to show land documents
In its September 28 order, the court also referred to the arguments of some intervenors in which they had claimed that their constructions were built on their private land and that land did not fall within the flood plain. The court has given such people the freedom to present their views before the competent authority, but has also put a strict condition that they will have to produce all the necessary documents related to land ownership, construction approval and building permission. The court also made it clear that without these documents no one’s side will be considered.