In The Offing: Jail Term of Up to 7 Years, Fine Of Rs 100 Cr For Obstructing, Polluting Ganga

Real estate developers often depend on river waters for carrying out construction work, most of the times illegally. However, this may soon be a thing of past as in the works is a stringent law that prescribes heavy fine for fiddling with the flow of and cleanliness of the river Ganga and its tributaries. Messing with the cleanliness or interrupting the flow of the river might land you in major trouble if the National River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Bill, 2017, becomes a law.  The Bill that prescribes a jail term of up to seven years and a monetary penalty of up to Rs 100 crore could act as a model to preserve, conserve and manage other rivers, too.

The panel constituted to review the provisions of the draft Bill held a meeting on June 13. A final draft may soon be out.

Also read: All You Need To Know About Coastal & River Regulation Zones

Let us have a look at the nature of offenses and the punishment they would attract:

A jail term of up to five years or with a fine of up to Rs 50,000, or both

Activities such as stone quarrying, crushing, cutting, finishing or processing sand mining illegally in the bed or on the banks of the Ganga or its tributaries would attract the penalties mentioned above. In case the offender fails to abide by the rules, an additional fine of up to Rs 20,000 per day can be imposed. The jail term, on the other hand, could be extended to up to seven years.

Jail term of up to two years, and a fine of up to Rs 100 crore

In case you cause an obstruction in water flow or the river or its tributaries without permission from, you may end up paying Rs 100 crore as penalty.

Jail term of one year or fine of up to Rs 50 crore

For constructing jetties, ports and permanent hydraulic structure, one will have to serve a jail term of one year, apart from a fine extending up to Rs 50 crore. The same is true in case of storage, diversion, control or channelisation of waters.

Jail term of up to one year, or a fine of up to Rs 50,000, or with both

For contaminating of the Ganga by disposal of pesticide, non-degradable plastic, waste batteries, hazardous chemicals, you have to face a penalty mentioned above. In case contravention continues, an additional fine may be imposed that may go up to Rs 5,000.

Also read: Can Indian Cities Manage Rivers Better?

Jail term of up to two years, or fine of up to Rs 2,000, or both

In case water is withdrawn from the river using electric or diesel-operated tubewells, the above-mentioned penalty will be imposed.