The Supreme Court of India on Monday issued a notice to the Centre, seeking a response regarding a plea against unauthorized constructions and encroachments on riverbeds, floodplains, and catchments of rivers across the country. The bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, along with Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, directed several key governmental bodies, including the Environment Ministry, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Central Water Commission, and the Central Pollution Control Board, to submit their replies within three weeks.
The plea, presented by advocate Akash Vashishtha on behalf of former IPS officer Dr. Ashok Kumar Raghav, highlighted the severe environmental and ecological damages caused by increasing illegal constructions on river floodplains and catchments. It argued that these activities have significantly contributed to the devastation experienced in various parts of the country due to flooding and other ecological disruptions.
Dr. Raghav’s petition specifically seeks the demolition of all unauthorized structures on riverbeds and floodplains and the restoration of these areas to their original conditions. Furthermore, the plea urges the central government to expedite the notification of the 2015 draft of the River Conservation Zone (RCZ) Regulation and ensure the demarcation of floodplains for all rivers and water channels within a strict three-month deadline.
The proposed River Regulation Zones (RRZ) notification is intended to establish River Conservation Zones (RCZs) to protect rivers and their adjacent areas from encroachments and to preserve their ecological integrity.
The urgency of this plea is underscored by references to the Composite Water Management Index report by Niti Aayog, which points to India facing its worst water crisis in history. Additionally, data presented in the Lok Sabha by the minister of state for Jal Shakti on March 23 last year indicated a rapid decline in per capita water availability due to population growth.
