Youth mission for clean river urges arunachal pradesh water resources minister to implement ngt order

Youth Mission for Clean River-Arunachal Pradesh (YMCR-AP) has written to state water resources minister Mama Natung to set up a nodal agency for identification, protection and restoration of

water bodies in the state in line with NGT directive. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed all states and Union territories to designate nodal agencies for the restoration of

water bodies within their respective jurisdictions under the chief secretaries. Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge! YMCR-AP is an Itanagar-based

NGO working for river and environment conservation. SD Loda, chairman of YMCR-AP, said: “Timely intervention of the state government will enable the concerned authorities to meet the NGT

deadline of holding the nodal agency’s meeting before January 31, 2021, to take stock of the situation and plan further steps.” The district authorities are directed to take further course

of action up to Panchayat levels and evolve further monitoring mechanism as well as Grievance Redressal Mechanism. Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your

knowledge! The authorities have been asked to submit the periodical reports to the CPCB/Secretary Jal Shakti Government of India before February 28, 2021. Highlighting the NGT verdict, Loda

said the NGT in its November 22 ruling while hearing the petition filed by Lt Col Sarvadaman Singh Oberoi had stated that ‘Under the Public Trust Doctrine, the state has to act as trustee of

the water bodies to protect them for the public use and enjoyment for current and future generations’. The ruling makes the state government and its allied department responsible to monitor

the steps for the restoration of water bodies by all the states periodically at least thrice in a year, Loda said. The river justice group has urged the minister to take decisive action on

the problem of river pollution which is leading to its depletion. “Rivers, forests, minerals and such other resources constitute a nation’s natural wealth. These resources are not to be

frittered away and exhausted by any one generation,” Loda said in its representation to Arunachal Pradesh water resources minister Mama Natung. “Every generation owes a duty to all

succeeding generations to develop and conserve the natural resources of the nation in the best possible way. It is in the interest of mankind. It is in the interest of the nation. They

maintain a delicate ecological balance.” “They need to be protected for a proper and healthy environment which enables people to enjoy a quality life which is the essence of the guaranteed

right under Article 21 of the Constitution,” Loda further said in the representation.