NGT takes up plea against easing Ganga floodplain construction norms
The National Green Tribunal is reviewing a challenge against a government notification that eases construction restrictions on the Ganga floodplain. Critics argue the change dilutes environmental protections, while the government maintains the revision is necessary for development.
Why it matters
The legal battle over floodplain construction has major consequences for the ecological health of the Ganga river and the effectiveness of environmental protection laws.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday (August 25, 2026) took up an application challenging a Ministry of Jal Shakti notification published in the Gazette on August 10, 2026.
The applicant, advocate Katyayni, has challenged the amendment to the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016, contending that it dilutes the earlier protection requiring the banks and floodplains of the Ganga and its tributaries to be maintained as a construction-free zone.
The Union government has eased restrictions governing construction along the Ganga floodplain, paving the way for building projects in areas subject to moderate or rare flooding. This has been done by revising the definition of a ‘flood plain’ and deleting a clause in the legislation that expressly prohibited construction, according to an August 10 Gazette order from the National Mission for Clean Ganga, affiliated to the Jal Shakti Ministry.
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