The Supreme Court labeled the sewage-filled roads in Agra as “horrible” while rejecting the Agra Development Authority’s appeal against a Rs 2 crore fine imposed by the National Green Tribunal. The fine was due to environmental damage from untreated sewage. The court mandated the ADA to submit an action plan for sewage management improvements within four weeks.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday described images of sewage-filled roads in Agra as “horrible” while dismissing an appeal by the Agra Development Authority (ADA) against a Rs 2 crore fine imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The penalty was levied due to ADA’s failure to prevent environmental damage caused by untreated sewage in the city.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar rejected the appeal and ordered ADA to nominate a senior officer within three weeks to ensure compliance with the NGT’s directives. The apex court also remanded the matter to the NGT, granting the panel authority to issue further legal orders.
“Look at the photographs. They are horrible and some of the roads are invisible and taken over by the untreated sewage waste,”
Chief Justice Khanna remarked, responding to the government law officer’s claim that the issue had been remedied.
The NGT imposed the Rs 2 crore penalty on January 18, 2023, following its findings on environmental damage caused by untreated sewage discharge from Nalanda Town, a housing colony on Shamshabad Road in Agra. Earlier, the tribunal had fined the ADA ₹25 lakh for its negligence.
Investigations revealed the colony was developed without adequate sewage infrastructure, leading to the discharge of 1.45 lakh liters of untreated sewage daily onto open land and nearby drains. Over 85 million liters per day (MLD) of untreated sewage flowed into the Yamuna River due to Agra’s insufficient treatment capacity, which stands at 220.75 MLD against the city’s generation of 286 MLD.
The NGT noted that the ADA permitted occupancy of the housing colony without ensuring compliance with mandatory sewage treatment infrastructure.
The apex court ordered the previously deposited fines of Rs 25 lakh and Rs 10 lakh to be released to the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB). The board will utilize these funds to upgrade Agra’s sewage treatment facilities.
The bench also directed the ADA to:
- Submit an action plan to improve sewage management within four weeks before the NGT.
- Ensure weekly transportation of sewage from affected colonies.
Agra, home to the iconic Taj Mahal and other historic monuments, attracts millions of domestic and international tourists annually. The unchecked sewage issue threatens not only the city’s environment but also its reputation as a global tourist destination.
The NGT had earlier called for environmental restoration and emphasized the ADA’s responsibility to implement sustainable sewage management solutions.
The Supreme Court’s dismissal of ADA’s appeal reiterates the importance of accountability in urban development and environmental management. The ADA has been tasked with taking significant measures to address Agra’s sewage crisis and prevent further environmental degradation.
With its next steps under scrutiny, ADA must prioritize the city’s sanitation and ensure compliance with both the NGT’s directives and the Supreme Court’s guidelines.
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