CJI dispels impression on previous comments on Ganga project

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice T S Thakur today dispelled impressions about his hard-hitting remarks during the judicial proceedings on the government's ambitious Clean Ganga project, saying the judicial process was "not an impediment" and "intervention" was needed for its honest implementation.

"There is no adversarial element in it. Ganga ki safai ko lekar court aur sarkar ke beech koi kheenchtan nahi hai (There is no tug of war between the court and the government over the cleaning of Ganga)," the Chief Justice said in an interaction with mediapersons here.

"We will intervene. Judicial process is not an impediment, it can be helpful," he said, adding that cleaning of the river was an "ambitious plan", but "it has to be seen how honestly the project is implemented."

Justice Thakur's fresh comments assume significance as, during the hearings on a 1984 PIL on cleaning of Ganga, he had observed that the river would not be restored to its pristine glory even in 200 years.

Emphasising people's participation in the Rs 20,000 crore Clean Ganga project covering 50 small and big cities, Justice Thakur said there was a need for an awareness campaign and the venture, which has to implemented in various stages, cannot be completed overnight.

"We all are linked to Ganga. A civilisation is linked to it and the river is linked to the civilisation of Hindustan. The river is linked to everyone, be they rich or poor. Faith is also attached to it," he said.

However, he said the condition of the river "is not right today, but it is not so that the situation cannot be rectified. The government is serious .... It has allocated Rs 20,000 crore. The government has also given a representation on the various phases of work it will carry out on this project. Cleaning of the Ganga cannot be done overnight."

The CJI pointed out that free flow of untreated industrial waste into the river was one of the major causes of pollution in it, and added that the sewage treatment plants on its banks were not working properly.

"It will be a long-drawn battle to cleanse the river," Justice Thakur said.