The Supreme Court has asked the Union Government and the States through which the River Ganga flows to submit a fresh status report on encroachments along the riverbanks and floodplains. The Court issued the direction while hearing a matter on illegal constructions on the Ganga floodplains in Patna, Bihar.
A Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan passed the order. It asked the Union Government, the State of Bihar, and other Ganga basin States to place updated details before it on encroachments and the steps taken to protect the riverbanks.
The Bench also issued notice to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. The Court did so after being told that encroachments had also been reported along the riverbanks in those States.
Ganga Bank Encroachments Case Before the Supreme Court
The case arises from a 2020 order of the National Green Tribunal. The NGT had dismissed an application alleging encroachments on the banks of the Ganga near Patna.
The Tribunal said the application did not provide specific details about the alleged violations or the violators.
Patna Details in the Ganga Bank Encroachments Matter
During the hearing, the petitioner told the Court that official surveys had identified 213 encroachments between Digha Ghat and Nauzar Ghat in Patna.
Authorities have removed 58 of these encroachments. Another 145 remain. State authorities said interim orders of the High Court and district courts had stalled further removal.
The petitioner also submitted that hundreds of encroachments exist between Nauzar Ghat and Nurpur Ghat. According to him, this showed that the problem is far wider.
Fresh Nationwide Review of Ganga Bank Encroachments
The Bench noted that the National Mission for Clean Ganga had earlier filed an affidavit highlighting encroachments in several States. However, the Court said that the affidavit had been filed in 2024 and that it now needed an updated picture.
The Court therefore directed the Union Government and the States to submit a fresh and comprehensive report.
2016 Framework and Ganga Bank Encroachments
The Court asked the Union Government, especially the National Mission for Clean Ganga, to address these issues in its report:
- What is the current status of encroachments along the banks and floodplains of the Ganga in all States through which the river flows?
- What steps have been taken to implement the notification dated October 7, 2016, relating to the protection and management of the Ganga?
- What impediments or hurdles are authorities facing in implementing the notification effectively?
- What future measures do authorities propose to ensure that the riverbanks and floodplains become free of encroachments?
- What directions from the Supreme Court would help authorities give meaningful effect to the Ganga protection framework?
- What is the status of floodplain demarcation in each of the States through which the river flows?
Court Examines 2016 Notification
During the hearing, the Court considered the notification dated October 7, 2016. The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation had issued it under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The notification lays down guiding principles for the rejuvenation, protection, and management of the River Ganga. These include maintaining ecological flow to preserve the river’s natural balance. They also include preventing and controlling pollution in the river and its tributaries. In addition, the notification calls for protection and proper management of riverbanks and floodplains to safeguard the ecological integrity of the river system.
The Court indicated that it must assess how effective these measures have been in light of continuing encroachments.
Next Hearing
The Court directed the Union Government and the State of Bihar to file updated reports before the next hearing. It also allowed the petitioner to place additional material on record about the present ground situation.
The matter will next come up on April 23, 2026.
Case: Ashok Kumar Sinha v. Union of India
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