The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has come down heavily on the Uttar Pradesh government for its consistent failure to prevent untreated sewer discharge from flowing into the state's rivers. In a significant order, the tribunal has refused to grant any further extension for setting up crucial sewage treatment infrastructure and has summoned the state's top environment official to appear virtually at the next hearing.
NGT's Stern Directive and Timeline Rejection
Expressing clear dissatisfaction with the state's progress, the tribunal, comprising chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Dr A Senthil Vel, issued the order on December 23, 2025. The order, which was made public on January 7, 2026, flatly rejected the plea made by the government counsel to extend the deadlines for establishing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and drains. The bench has given the state a strict four-week window to submit a supplementary affidavit with necessary clarifications.
To ensure proper assistance in the matter, the NGT has appointed advocates Katyayni and Vikrant Badesra as amicus curiae (friends of the court). These directions were issued during the hearing of two connected applications: Original Application No. 593/2017 (Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti and Anr. vs Union of India & Ors.) and Original Application No. 606/2018, both concerning compliance with environmental norms related to sewage and waste management.
A Long History of Delays and Non-Compliance
The legal battle over this issue has a long history. The matter was initially heard by the Supreme Court in the case of Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti vs Union of India & Ors., which was disposed of on February 22, 2017. The apex court had then directed the state of UP to complete the setup and operationalisation of STPs, Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), and Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) within a three-year timeline, expiring in February 2020.
When the state failed to meet this deadline, it approached the Supreme Court again in March 2023, filing a Miscellaneous Application seeking more time to achieve 100% STP coverage. The Supreme Court, on March 20, 2023, permitted UP to move the NGT with its application, authorising the tribunal to extend the timeline only if satisfied that the state had pursued all necessary steps with sufficient urgency.
Alarming Data and Worsening Pollution Indicators
The NGT's refusal to grant an extension is rooted in stark and alarming data presented before it. The tribunal noted that out of 3,396 drains identified across Uttar Pradesh in 2025, a mere 478 are fully tapped and only 22 are partially tapped. This leaves a staggering 2,896 drains completely untapped, freely discharging waste into water bodies.
More critically, the number of drains directly releasing untreated sewage into rivers has increased from 1,230 in 2017 to 1,385 in 2025, indicating a regression in the state's pollution control efforts. While the state has established 155 STPs with a total capacity of 4,705.1 Million Litres per Day (MLD), the actual utilised capacity is only 3,746.87 MLD, pointing to operational inefficiencies.
The tribunal specifically highlighted the dismal situation in districts like Ghazipur, Ballia, Azamgarh, and Mahu, noting that "not a single drain in those 4 districts was tapped and diverted to the STP." Citing this "lack of demonstrated bona fide compliance and worsening environmental indicators," the NGT ruled that it cannot grant the state's request for an extension until December 31, 2028, at this stage.
The case is now scheduled for its next hearing on March 12, 2026, where the Uttar Pradesh Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary has been directed to appear virtually, underscoring the gravity with which the tribunal views this ongoing environmental crisis.
