A view of the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi. | Photo credit: File
The Supreme Court directed the Center and the National Mission for Ganga Authority to submit a report detailing the status of encroachments on the banks of the Ganges in all the states through which it flows or flows.
A bench headed by Justice JB Pardiwala directed the Union government and the authority to provide details of the measures taken to meaningfully implement the notification issued by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation dated October 7, 2016 on the rejuvenation, protection, management and ecological flow of the river and its tributaries, which are clogged with illegal waste and riddled on the banks.
In its order released on Saturday (March 14, 2026), the court noted that the authority last provided an update on the river in 2024. In this affidavit, the court noted “encroachments on all banks and periphery of the Ganges” in all the basin states.
Advocate Akash Vashishtha, appearing for the petitioner, said encroachments continued to exist on the banks of the river.
“What obstacles or hindrances stand in the way of the Authority’s better and effective implementation of the Notification? What steps does the Authority intend to take to protect the Ganga River flowing through all the States and ensure that the river plains and banks are free from any encroachment?” asked the court.
The court also sought details in the report on the status of floodplain demarcation in the river-bound states.
The court adjourned the matter for further hearing on April 23, 2026.
Published – 14 March 2026 22:17 IST
