STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI,: Standing counsel of the Gauhati High Court, H.K. Das, presented a report on the contaminated water from all water sources flowing into the Brahmaputra at different locations within Guwahati. He also affixed an action plan prepared by the four-member River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC) before the High Court.
The RRC comprises the Secretary of the State Environment and Forest Department; the Secretary of the Urban Development Department (UDD); the Commissioner of Industries and Commerce; and the member-secretary of the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA).
The Advocate General of Assam, D. Saikia, submitted that the state government is cognizant of the suggestions given in the report and would like to respond thereto in a short period of time. He further submitted that the samples of water have been collected and forwarded to the Pollution Control Board for analysis in terms of the directions given by this Court on July 26, 2023. The report is expected shortly.
The High Court did register the suo moto PIL (4/2023) on the strength of a letter from Pratap Chandra Das, a former student of Sonaram Higher Secondary School, Guwahati. He raised an important issue regarding the contamination and degradation of the Bharalu River flowing through Guwahati. The petitioner highlighted in his letter that the Bharalu river, which is a tributary to the mighty Brahmaputra river, has been severely polluted as hazardous waste materials have been dumped into the river, which is causing a risk to the health and hygiene of society. It is further alleged that none of the civic bodies entrusted with the task of maintaining the health and hygiene of the city dwellers of Guwahati has bothered to put in place proper interventional measures to address the devastating and precarious pollution of the river.
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