The Yamuna Cases



A wastewater drain in north Delhi
There are two cases currently running in the Supreme Court of India that focus on the eco-quality of the Yamuna River. The oldest case argues for adequate flows in both the Yamuna and Ganga rivers and for meeting the requirements of ground water recharge with clean water. It also pushes for treatment of all sewage up to the tertiary stage before it is allowed to flow into the Yamuna. The original writ was submitted by Commander Sureshwar D. Sinha, a resident of Delhi and Chairman of a Delhi-based NGO, Paani Morcha. This case is listed as Cmdr. Sureshwar Sinha vs Union of India and Others No. 537 of 1992. The second case was inspired by a newspaper article written in 1994. Titled "And Quiet Flows the Maili Yamuna," that article charged that the Central Pollution Control Board was not executing its powers to prevent pollution of this major river in north India. Mr. M. C. Mehta and Mr. Ranjit Kumar were instated as amicus curaie in this case, listed as Writ Petition (Civil) No. 725 of 1994). A third case is running in the High Court of Allahabad. The writ was submitted by Gopeshwar Nath Chaturvedi and targets improvements under the Yamuna Action Plan and minimum flow requirements. The case is listed as Gopeshwar Nath Chaturvedi vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and others (No. 1644 of 1998).