Supreme Court has raised concerns over the increasing encroachments along the banks of the Ganga River. The court has directed the Union government, Bihar government and other relevant authorities to submit a detailed report within four weeks, outlining the status of these encroachments.
A bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Vishwanathan, in its order dated April 2, 2025, mandated the submission of a 'clear, comprehensive, and time-bound report' on the matter.
The order was passed while hearing an appeal filed by Patna resident Ashok Kumar Sinha. The Supreme Court stated in its directive that during the proceedings, the bench had remarked, "It wants complete information about the current status of the case."
The court questioned both the state and Union governments: "How many encroachments have been removed so far? How many still remain? What is the action plan for their removal? By when will this process be completed?"
The bench further clarified that it seeks a detailed report on all these aspects before issuing final directives.
Before ordering clarity in the case, the court also reviewed a report submitted earlier on September 18, 2023.
The survey report highlighted that there are 151 illegal constructions in the Sambalpur Diara area, stretching from the Mahatma Gandhi Setu to Nauzer Ghat. These include both temporary and permanent structures, identified by a team formed under the District Magistrate’s orders. The team compared 1908-09 survey maps and 1932-33 municipal survey reports to arrive at these findings.
It was also noted that proceedings for the removal of these encroachments have been initiated under the Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956, with 15 encroachment cases registered so far. However, the court demanded further clarity on the matter.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Akash Vashishth, informed the court that large-scale illegal constructions are taking place in Bihar’s floodplains of the Ganga, which serve as a critical habitat for the endangered Gangetic dolphin.
"These structures not only pose a serious threat to the Ganga and its dolphins but also compromise the purity and sanctity of the river’s water. Patna’s groundwater is severely contaminated with arsenic, making the Ganga’s water purity essential for drinking needs," he argued.
The court also directed that the petitioner, Ashok Kumar Sinha, be kept informed about the current status of encroachments. Vashishth further contended that the demarcation of floodplains along the Ganga and its tributaries does not comply with the central legal provisions of the Ganga Authority Order, 2016.
He alleged that most states in the Ganga basin are adopting an arbitrary and unscientific approach in demarcating these zones, increasing environmental risks.
The case originally stemmed from a 2020 order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had disposed of Sinha’s petition without providing concrete solutions. His plea had highlighted that the Bihar government had permitted 1.5 km-long roads, colonies, brick kilns, and other constructions in Patna’s floodplains — a key natural habitat for dolphins in the subcontinent.
The petition also noted that groundwater in Patna’s Ganga-adjacent areas is heavily arsenic-laced, potentially affecting 5.5 lakh people. Thus, maintaining the river’s ecological integrity and water purity is crucial.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court hinted that it may expand the case’s scope to include floodplains across all 11 Ganga basin states. If so, this ruling could set a historic precedent for environmental conservation along the entire Ganga.