Panel formed to frame Ganga act draft submits report to government

NEW DELHI: A committee formed by the Centre to frame a draft for the Ganga act, which provides for "stricter" action against those polluting the river, today submitted its report to the Water Resources Ministry.

Justice (retd) Girdhar Malviya, who heads the panel formed last year, submitted the report to Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti at Shram Shakti Bhawan here.

According to an official statement, the draft law addresses "critical" issues pertaining to Ganga on its cleanliness and uninterrupted e-flow.

"The committee has adopted certain stricter provisions to increase accountability and responsibility for use of resources made available by Ganga," the statement said.

A ministry official said the act has provided for penalising those who pollute the river.

The draft act will be circulated to some ministries including Law for their suggestions.

The Water Resources Ministry will then seek suggestions/objections from public before finalising the draft, the official said without elaborating further on the report.

Former secretary (legislative department) VK Bhasin, IIT-Delhi professor AK Gosain and IIT-Roorkee professor Nayan Sharma were other members of the panel.

The committee had National Mission for Clean Ganga director Sundeep as its member secretary.