Context:
Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) sought the Centre’s response to a petition challenging amendments to the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016. The amendment removes the earlier “construction-free zone” tag and introduces a graded definition of floodplains based on flood frequency.
Explanation
- A floodplain is low-lying land adjoining a river that is naturally inundated when the river overflows; it helps store floodwater, recharge groundwater and maintain river ecology.
- The 2016 Ganga Authorities Order, issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, provided a regulatory framework for protecting and rejuvenating the River Ganga.
- Earlier, the Order envisaged construction-free zones in the Ganga’s floodplains, while their precise extent was to be determined with reference to local conditions.
- The amended framework classifies floodplains according to flood-return periods: active floodplain—inundated at least once in 5 years; regulatory zone—once in 5–25 years; and warning zone—once in 25–100 years.
- The petition argues that replacing the construction-free approach could weaken protection of active floodplains and conflicts with earlier judicial directions.
- The NGT, established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, adjudicates cases concerning environmental protection, forests and natural resources.
- The NGT has sought responses but has not stayed the amendment.
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Ganga Floodplain Regulation