SC seeks status report on Ganga bank encroachments

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and the National Mission for Ganga Authority to file a report detailing the status of encroachments on the banks of the River Ganga across all the States through which it flows or passes.

A Bench headed by Justice J.B. Pardiwala ordered the Union government and the Authority to provide details of the measures taken to meaningfully implement an October 7, 2016 notification issued by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation on the rejuvenation, protection, management and ecological flow of the river and its tributaries, which are choked by plastic waste and riddled with illegal structures on the banks.

The court, in its order published on Saturday (March 14, 2026), noted that the Authority had last given an update on the river in 2024. In that affidavit, it had drawn the court’s attention to “encroachments all over the banks and periphery of River Ganga” in all the basin States.

Advocate Akash Vashishtha, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that encroachments continue to exist along the river banks.

“What are the impediments or hurdles coming in the way of the Authority in giving effect to the better and effective implementation of the Notification? What steps the Authority intends to take to protect the river Ganga passing through all the States, and ensure that the river plains and banks are free of all encroachments?” the court asked.

The court has also sought details in the status report on the status of floodplain demarcation across States linked to the river.

The court listed the case for further hearing on April 23, 2026.