NEWS

The Allahabad High court castigated Uttar Pradesh government for having failed to take adequate steps and release sufficient funds for controlling pollution in the river Ganga. Hearing a writ petition filed by an Allahabad-based religious leader Swami Harichaitanyaji Maharaj, a Division Bench comprising Justice Ashok Bhusan and Justice Arun Tandon said "neither sufficient steps have been taken nor sufficient funds released by the state government with regard to controlling the pollution and maintaining the quality and quantity of water in the river Ganges, although the state government has been spending large number of funds, in crores, in different projects". The petitioner had sought the court's direction to the state government for controlling pollution in the river.Fixing May 20 as the next date of hearing in the matter, the court directed the state government to produce "specific details as to how much fund has been released by the state government as compared to other projects undertaken by the state in the last two years". The court also ordered that on the next date of hearing, "requisite facts on affidavit may be placed before the court by an officer of the state government not below the rank of Secretary".