NGT seeks response from Centre, state on key Ganga tributary's depletion due to ambitious water supply project
Dehradun: The
National Green Tribunal
(NGT) has initiated legal proceedings against the Centre and Uttarakhand govt after taking suo motu cognisance of media reports on the ecological decline of the Nayar river, a key tributary of the Ganga, due to water supply projects.
In a strongly worded note, the green tribunal observed that while flagship schemes like 'Har Ghar Nal' and 'Har Ghar Jal' aim to expand household water access, they often overlook the preservation of local water ecosystems.
"Currently, over 50 pumping stations operate within the Nayar basin, drawing water but returning only pollution," the tribunal noted. It flagged the disappearance of aquatic life, including the endangered Golden Mahseer, as a stark sign of the river's deteriorating health.
It identified climate change, declining groundwater recharge, and unchecked urbanisation as aggravating factors.
The tribunal also referred to a 2017–18 report by the department of science and technology, which found that nearly half of the perennial water sources in the Himalayan region had either dried up or shown a significant drop in flow.
In its June 6 order, recently made public, the NGT stated that the case involves provisions under the Biodiversity Act, 2002, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
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"Hence we impleaded key institutions and officials in the case," said the bench, comprising judicial member Arun Tyagi and expert member Dr A Senthil.
The authorities named include secretaries from the ministry of jal shakti and department of water resources, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB), GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, ICAR–Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board, and the state's principal chief conservator of forests.
They have been asked to submit a comprehensive response within six weeks.
The next hearing is scheduled for Aug 6.
The Doodhatoli range, spanning Chamoli, Pauri, and Almora districts at altitudes between 2,000 and 2,400 metres, is known for its ecological richness. It is the origin of five non-glacial rivers, including the Eastern and Western Nayar, which flow through alpine meadows, forests, farmland, and traditional water systems. These streams merge near Bhanghat to form the Nayar river, which joins the Ganga at Vyasghat.
The river plays a vital role in sustaining biodiversity, agriculture, cultural heritage, and rural livelihoods in the region.
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