The pollution in rivers has increased, yet the state government has not done anything about it, slammed the Bombay High Court. “It is a constitutional obligation of the state government to take all possible steps to control pollution of its rivers and to improve their water quality,” said a bench of Justices AS Oka and RI Chagla.
The bench issued the direction while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by an NGO, Vanashakti, who sought an interim order to the state to formulate a policy to protect its rivers.
According to the petitioner, in 2009, the government had issued a resolution proposing a plan to protect its rivers. However, as time passed, amendments were done in GR which allowed people to build hotels, restaurants along river beds or near riverfronts. The petitioner told the court that the Central Pollution Control Board had published a study which stated that 49 rivers in Maharashtra were severely polluted.
The bench said,
We proceed with the assumption that since the state has failed to inform the court of its decision, it doesn't intend to come up with a new policy. Therefore, this court can direct the state to fulfill its constitutional duty.”
The bench has directed the state to file the affidavit by June 22.
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