During the course of proceedings before the Tribunal, the stakeholders also deliberated in favour of demarcation of floodplain of river Ganga, for ensuring protection and maintenance of the health of the river. The above stated precedent of the Tribunal also has its definite reference in the Notification dated 7th October, 2016 issued by the MoWR. In sub-clause (ix) of clause 4(v) of the Notification which relates to Principles to be followed for rejuvenation, protection and management of river Ganga, states that the bank of river Ganga and its floodplains shall be a construction free zone to reduce sources of pollution, pressure on floodplains and to maintain its natural groundwater recharging properties. This clearly demonstrates that fixation of the floodplain and its demarcation is one of the principal projects for cleaning and rejuvenation of river Ganga, amongst all the stakeholders. As already stated, the project at priority is to clean river Ganga and not to diversify financial resources to the subsidiary function of cleaning innumerable drains in the city. There are innumerable factors consequential to pollution of floodplains of the river. Indiscriminate and unplanned constructions or developments, carrying on of unauthorized and impermissible activities, dumping of municipal solid waste, biomedical waste and E-waste in and around the floodplains, are some of the main contributors of pollution in river Ganga.
