Gauhati High Court Initiates Suo Moto PIL Over Contamination Of Brahmaputra Tributary, Seeks Assam Govt's Response By May 18

The Gauhati High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Assam Government and other authorities in a Suo Motu PIL regarding the contamination and degradation of Bharalu river.

The High Court has registered the Suo Motu PIL on the basis of letter forwarded by Pratap Chandra Das, a former student of Sonaram Higher Secondary School, Guwahati.

Das, in his letter highlighted that the Bharalu river, which is a tributary to the Brahmaputra river, has been severely polluted as hazardous waste materials have been dumped into the river, which is causing risk to the health and hygiene of the society.

It was further alleged by Das that none of the civic bodies entrusted with the task of maintaining the health and hygiene of the city dwellers of Guwahati has bothered to put in proper interventional measures on the devastating and precarious pollution of the river.

The division bench of the Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Suman Shyam issued notice to the following authorities:

1. The State of Assam
2. The Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Assam
3. The Chief Executive Officer, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority
4. The Commissioner, Guwahati Municipal Corporation
5. The Member Secretary, Pollution Control Board, Assam

The matter is again listed on May 18.

Case Title: XXX v. The State of Assam & 4 Ors.

Coram: The Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Suman Shyam

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