SC raps Modi govt for lack of urgency in cleaning River Ganga

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New Delhi, Aug 13: A Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice TS Thakur told the Central government, “The issue of cleaning Ganga is very important and it has to be put on front burner.”

Solicitor General Mukul Rohatgi had appeared for the government and sought two weeks adjournment on the issue.

The Court told the Solicitor General, “Are you saving the holy river. You are showing no urgency in this matter. But only in other matters.”

Highlights

SC raps Modi govt for lack of urgency in cleaning River Ganga

Apex Court slams govt for not setting priorities right

SC asks for status report on government’s action plan to make Ganga pollution free

Solicitor General Mukul Rohatgi had sought two weeks adjournment on the issue

PM Modi was elected in Lok Sabha from the riverside city Varanasi in May

Modi government allocated Rs 2,040 crore for a fresh ‘Ganga Mission’

The Court also sought a status report on the government’s action plan to make the Ganga pollution free along with the roadmap on the action to be taken and the steps in that direction.

Cleaning the holy river Ganga is believed to be one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet projects.

Modi was elected in May to the Lok Sabha from the riverside city Varanasi and he had pledged to get the holy river clean referring it to as ‘Maa Ganga’.

The Apex Court has been dealing since last 19 years with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to restore lost glory of river, which many even term as a ‘sewage line’.

In its first budget, Modi government had allocated Rs 2,040 crore for a fresh ‘Ganga Mission’.