(a) whether the catchment areas of Ganga river are being encroached upon in several parts of the country and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has taken any steps to check the same; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION
(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)
(a) to (c) Government of India has notified constitution of Authorities at National, State and District levels vide notification at 7th October, 2016 to take measures for prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution in River Ganga and to ensure continuous adequate flow of water so as to rejuvenate the River Ganga. As per the above Authority Order, no person shall construct any structure for residential or commercial or industrial or any other purposes in the River Ganga, banks of River Ganga or its tributaries or active flood plain area of River Ganga or its tributaries. The Authority order also provides for removal of such construction if such construction causes interruption in the continuous flow of water or pollution in River Ganga or its tributaries. In addition, Union Government had circulated Model Flood Plain Zoning Bill in 1975 to all States but only Manipur, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand had enacted the legislation.
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