Above: Goverdhan parvat/Photo: Wikimedia

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday (January 8) was informed by Giriraj Parikrama Sanrakshan during trial proceedings that in the name of tradition, a lot of milk was being flown into the drains of Goverdhan Parvat in Mathura. It had earlier approached the green court, pleading that municipal solid waste was being dumped on the mountain and the parikrama marg surrounding it, leading to pollution, and the administration was not taking proper steps for the proper collection and disposal of municipal solid waste and garbage. The NGT bench had then directed the concerned authorities to ensure that the garbage is not dumped anywhere and should be removed, segregated and disposed of according to the MSW rules.

During the course of the proceedings, UP filed a detailed affidavit while the petitioner placed photographs showing that milk was flowing into the drains of Goverdhan Parvat and the parikrama marg.

The counsel representing UP submitted to the bench that the milk was flowing as part of a tradition. He said: “There is a tradition of doodh ki dhari during parikrama around Goverdhan Parvat and it is a part of tradition.”

Countering the claims of UP, the petitioner submitted: “Whatever submission has been made by the respondents is wrong. In the name of tradition, the respondents are doing away with their responsibilities.”

The matter is yet to be decided.

—India Legal Bureau