In its drive to achieve a clean Ganga, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has banned the dumping of all wastes within 500 metres of the Ganga and said a Rs. 50,000 penalty will be levied on anyone found violating this directive.

The NGT declared the 100 metres of the river between Uttar Pradesh`s Unnao to Uttarakhand`s Haridwar, the stretch considered holy, as a no-development zone and has also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to shift all leather tanneries in the region to any other place within six weeks.

The apex green court has also directed the UP and Uttarakhand governments to formulate guidelines for religious activities near the river and its tributaries.
Since its launch in January 1986 till end June this year, the NGT has spent Rs.4,864.48 crore for the Ganga Action Plan and Rs. 1,924.30 crore is still unspent.