NGT Orders Restoration of Suav River Status

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to restore the Suav’s classification from a “nullah” (drain) to a “river” in official revenue records and gazette notifications. The order came in response to a petition challenging the downgrading of the Suav, a key tributary of the Rapti river in Balrampur district. The tribunal warned that non-compliance would invite penal action under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.

Directive to Correct Official Records

The bench, led by NGT Chairman Justice Prakash Srivastava, instructed the Balrampur district magistrate to amend revenue records within three months and publish the correction in the Official Gazette and local newspapers. District authorities in Balrampur and Siddharthnagar were also directed to halt new construction in the Flood Plain Zone until the Active Flood Zone is identified and demarcated.

The case was registered under the tribunal’s suo motu jurisdiction following a letter petition, invoking the Supreme Court judgment in Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs Ankita Sinha.

Historical and Ecological Significance

Petitioners cited the 1906 publication “Gonda: A Gazetteer”, which described the Suav (then Suwawan) as a significant tributary of the Rapti. The river extends nearly 120 km, replenishing wetlands, lakes and ponds before joining the Rapti, itself a tributary of the Ganga.

Over time, land reclamation, encroachments and development projects led to its classification as a drain. The plea alleged that construction of a sewage treatment plant and a community hall on the riverbed could cause environmental degradation and increase flood risks.

Floodplain Protection and Monitoring Measures

The tribunal directed District Ganga Committees to replicate the Sant Seechewal model for community-led river rejuvenation. The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board has been tasked with regular monitoring of water quality, including treated sewage and industrial effluents.

The Irrigation and Water Resources Department must demarcate active floodplains within six months in line with Central Water Commission guidelines and the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management Authorities) Order, 2016.

Important Facts for Exams

• The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 empowers NGT to enforce environmental compliance.
• Section 26 of the Act prescribes penalties for non-compliance with tribunal orders.
• Floodplain zoning is guided by Central Water Commission norms.
• The Rapti River is a tributary of the Ganga river system.

Warning of Legal Consequences

The NGT stated that failure to implement its directives would constitute an offence under Section 26 of the Act and that its order is executable as a civil court decree under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. The National Mission for Clean Ganga has been directed to review proposals concerning sewage treatment and Suav river rejuvenation, reinforcing judicial oversight in river conservation efforts.