Stop making our rivers flowing hell

The polluter pays principle is a widely accepted tenet within broader guidelines for sustainable development. This was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court on Monday when it ordered Agra Nagar Nigam to pay environmental compensation of ₹58.39 cr for polluting the Yamuna with untreated sewage. This isn’t the first time a polluter or local government body has faced scrutiny. The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) docket is filled with such cases.The court’s backing of the NGT’s April order, which documented the failure of existing sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Agra, is promising. NGT’s order had noted that among 90 drains, only 21 were fully tapped, while 8 were partially and 61 entirely untapped, resulting in untreated sewage flowing directly into the river. This ruling not only assigns responsibility for sewage and effluent treatment, but also can spark a long-overdue conversation about empowering municipal bodies to fulfil their duties. The order also shines a spotlight on water pollution. It’s not just air quality that’s critical for citizens’ health. Water is also diminishing the quality of life for many. As CJI D Y Chandrachud aptly stated, ‘[Civic authorities] have created a hell…. All rivers are getting polluted because of such indiscriminate discharge in rivers.’

Implementing plans to tackle water pollution from sewage and effluent discharge into rivers must become a priority for city and state administrations. For success, it’s crucial to empower municipal bodies and hold them accountable. Local governments operate at ground zero and must be involved in decision-making to design effective solutions and create mechanisms that deliver results. Municipal authorities must take ownership of both the problem and the solution. Otherwise, more such ‘hells’ will emerge.