NGT Orders Environmental Compensation for Polluting Urban Bodies in Bihar

The National Green Tribunal has ordered the Bihar State Pollution Control Board to impose environmental compensation on urban local bodies responsible for discharging untreated waste into the Ganga River. This decision follows a report indicating that major rivers in Bihar are unsafe for bathing due to severe pollution. The tribunal is investigating the presence of harmful bacteria in several rivers and has called for detailed reports on sewage treatment plants in the state. The next hearing is set for October 16, as the NGT seeks to address the ongoing environmental crisis affecting the Ganga.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 5, 2026, 18:13 IST

NGT Directs Action Against Pollution in Ganga River

New Delhi, August 5 - The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has mandated the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) to impose environmental compensation on urban local bodies discharging untreated waste into the Ganga River. This directive follows the tribunal's suo motu cognizance of a newspaper report titled 'River Pollution: Ganga Water Unsafe for Bathing,' which highlighted the issue. The bench, led by Justice Prakash Srivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmed, stated in an order on August 3 that the tribunal is investigating severe pollution levels and the presence of 'fecal coliform' bacteria in several rivers, including the Ganga, Son, Kosi, and Bagmati across 27 districts in Bihar.

The bench noted that the report prompting the original petition indicated that all major rivers flowing through Bihar are unsafe for bathing. It was mentioned that the state's environmental department submitted an affidavit revealing that there are currently 43 sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Bihar.

Out of these, 15 are operational, five are under testing, nine are under construction, four are in the tendering phase, and 10 are in the detailed project report (DPR) stage. The tribunal instructed the department to provide further details regarding the utilization capacity of these STPs and the progress of the plants under construction. It also requested the BSPCB to clarify whether the treated water from these STPs meets the required standards.

The NGT highlighted that, according to the affidavit, 15 drains in Patna discharge approximately 34.9 crore liters of water into the Ganga daily; seven drains in Buxar contribute 5 crore liters, five drains in Ara (Bhojpur) add 4.7 crore liters, five drains in Jamalpur (Munger) release 2.5 crore liters, and two drains in Barauni discharge 2.3 crore liters into the river. Additionally, the tribunal found that there are three drains in Dumraon (Buxar) and six in Barahiya (Lakhisarai) where no action has been taken yet. The tribunal stated, 'Since sewage is being discharged into the Ganga River, the BSPCB should take action to impose environmental compensation on those urban local bodies responsible for releasing untreated waste through drains into the Ganga.'

The next hearing for this case is scheduled for October 16.