Supreme Court makes Ministry of Water Power a party in Yamuna pollution case

The Supreme Court has also made the Ministry of Water Power a party during the hearing of Yamuna pollution case on Tuesday. The apex court said, pollution-free water is a fundamental right and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure it. The court issued notice in this regard to the Ministry of Water Power and sought its response.A bench of CJI SA Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian held Delhi Jal Board, Faridabad Municipality, Prayagraj Municipal Corporation, Agra Municipal Corporation and Aligarh Municipal Corporation as well as the ministry accountable in the matter.Taking cognizance of the pollution of the rivers, the bench has also issued notices to five states including the Center, CBCB and Delhi Haryana. The bench directed the registry to register a case on the rescue of polluted rivers, taking suo motu cognizance. The bench said that it is the first to raise the issue of pollution of Yamuna. The bench will ask the CPCB to submit a report marking all the municipalities bordering the Yamuna where sewage treatment plants have not been set up.