For better surveillance and control, the panel constituted a committee of officials from both various departments of the Central government and the Uttarakhand government to prepare a regulatory regime which should be submitted to the tribunal in three weeks. Sajwan, directed the Uttarakhand government (in coordination with the ministry of textiles) to provide bio-degradable materials including jute bags and other such items which can be permitted in the entire segment. The procurement, storing and sale of such plastic bags, plates, glasses, spoons etc are hereby prohibited,” the bench said, adding: “These restrictions would become operative with effect from February 1, 2016. According to the panel, the Rapid Impact Assessment Report shall be treated as a relevant document and the committee will conduct or get conducted a further survey to satisfy itself..” The bench, that also comprises judicial member M.The bench also made it obligatory on every person to whom a permit/licence for camping is granted by the state to collect the municipal solid waste or other wastes from the sites at their own cost and ensure its transportation to the identified sites for dumping.Noting that rafting does not cause any serious pollution of the river or environment, the panel permtted this activity to be carried on with immediate effect. The tribunal imposed a complete ban on the use of any plastic items, medical waste, municipal waste, construction and demolition waste into Ganga and its tributaries.NGT allows rafting, Rs 5,000 fine for hotels spewing waste.

NGT allows rafting, Rs 5,000 fine for hotels spewing wasteIn a slew of measures to keep the river Ganga free from pollution, the National Green Tribunal Thursday banned camping activity in the entire belt of Kaudiyala to Rishikesh on the Ganga’s banks in Uttarakhand till a regulatory regime comes into force. The tribunal also banned the use of plastic from Gomukh to Hardwar along the Ganga from February 1, 2016, imposing a Rs 5,000 penalty on all erring hotels, dharamshalas and ashrams spewing waste into the river. Agrawal and B. Nambiar and expert members D.S. It, however, permitted river-rafting.K.The order came following a plea of an NGO Social Action for Forest and Environment against the “unregulated” operation of rafting camps in Rishikesh and other areas on the banks of the Ganga.“Under no circumstances, plastic carry bags of any thickness whatsoever would be permitted. It also restricted China plastic water bottle making machine all construction activity “within 100 meters of the river” and made it clear no structure of any kind would be permitted to be raised, whether it is temporary, semi-permanent or permanent.S.“No camping activity shall be carried out in the entire belt of Kaudilaya to Rishikesh and the government will abide by its statement before the tribunal on March 31, 2015, till the regulatory regime in terms of this judgment comes into force and is effectively implemented,” a bench headed by the NGT chairperson, Justice Swatanter Kumar, said.The NGT said violators will have to pay environmental compensation at the rate of Rs 5,000 per incident in the entire belt covered under the order.