Dumping Of Plastic Is Causing Serious Environment Degradation, Impacting Aquatic Lives: Apex Court Flags Rising Plastic Pollution In Water Bodies

The Supreme Court has raised alarms over the escalating plastic pollution along riverbanks and water bodies, highlighting its detrimental impact on aquatic life.

The Bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice SVN Bhatti expressed concern that widespread use and dumping of plastic in areas meant to be pollution-free is causing severe environmental degradation.

The Court noted that there is a wide spread use of plastic in the areas that are to be kept free from such pollution-related potential products and the dumping of plastic is causing serious environmental degradation and also impacting aquatic life on the river banks and the water bodies in the country.

The Court was hearing a Civil Appeal related to the removal of unauthorized structures along the Ganga river in Patna. 

The Bench warned that without coordinated efforts by responsible authorities, along with public cooperation, any attempt to improve water quality in rivers like the Ganga and other water bodies across the country would be futile. 

"Unless concerted effort is made by the responsible authorities with people’s cooperation, irrespective of the efforts to target illegal/unauthorized constructions, the desired improvement of the quality of the water in river Ganga/all other rivers and water bodies in the country will remain illusory," the Bench opined. 

In the wake of these concerns, the Court has directed both the Union government and the State of Bihar to file affidavits addressing the environmental issues highlighted.  "...while permitting the learned ASG to file an affidavit in four weeks on the issues raised in the appeal, the response should also take into account the environment concerns raised in the present order. Affidavit in response be also filed by the State of Bihar within the same time line," the Court ordered. 

Cause Title: Ashok Kumar Sinha v. Union of India & Ors. 

Appearance:-

Appellant: Advocates Akash Vashishtha, Nidhi Agarwal, Neeraj Kumar Sharma (AOR)

Click here to read/download the Order