Expert panel to assess draft bill on Ganga protection holds maiden meet

NEW DELHI: The experts' panel formed by the government to review provisions of draft National River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Bill, 2017, which, among others proposes jail term for offenders, met here for the first time.

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) Director General UP Singh chaired the meeting held yesterday, the Union Water Resources Ministry said in a statement.

Ministry joint secretary Sanjay Kundu, Madhya Pradesh advocate general Purushaindra Kaurav and Allahabad High Court advocate Arun Kumar Gupta -- all members of the committee -- attended the meeting.

The bill, the ministry said, seeks to address critical issues pertaining to Ganga on its cleanliness and un- interrupted e-flow.

It also proposes penalty, including jail terms, to offenders.

It also captures various judgments on the river including those of Supreme Court, various high courts and the National Green Tribunal.

The draft bill was framed by a panel formed by the Centre under the chairmanship of Justice Giridhar Malviya in July 2016.

The committee had submitted the draft to Union Water Resources Minister on April 12, 2017.

Ganga will be the first river to be protected by an act, if the bill becomes law.