Now Reading: SC grants Bihar eight weeks to clear Ganga floodplain encroachments
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SC grants Bihar eight weeks to clear Ganga floodplain encroachments
The Supreme Court has granted the Bihar government eight weeks to remove all unauthorised structures and encroachments from the Ganga flood plains between Nauzar Ghat and Nurpur Ghat in Patna. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan said it was giving time for the last time and warned that failure could lead to summoning the chief secretary and contempt proceedings.
On September 28, Bihar Advocate General S D Sanjay told the court that directions from July 21 were partially complied with. He said a natural calamity in Nepal caused the Ganga's water level to rise, submerging the stretch and hampering removal. The court directed a full compliance report on the next hearing after eight weeks.
The court was hearing a petition challenging a June 2020 National Green Tribunal order that dismissed a plea against illegal constructions on the eco-fragile flood plains. The bench said intervenors claiming their land was not in the flood plains must approach the competent authority with title documents, without them, no representation will be considered.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both New Indian Express and Hindustan Times report the Supreme Court's eight-week extension identically, drawing on agency copy. Each attributes the delay to a Nepal calamity raising the Ganga's level, and each carries the court's warning of contempt and summoning of the chief secretary. Neither outlet adds independent commentary or omission. The coverage is uniform straight reporting. The next concrete step is the full compliance report due at the hearing after eight weeks.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): newindianexpress.com (neutral report), hindustantimes.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
