New Delhi: Many unidentified bodies both decomposed and bloated, have been found floating in the Ganga over the past couple of days, which has sparked fears among residents in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh that bodies of Covid victims were being dumped in the river. This has drawn sharp criticism from civil society and other concerned organizations.
Therefore, taking note of the issue, the National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC), on Thursday, has issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of both the States and the Secretary, Union Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation) calling for immediate action taken report within four weeks.
This development comes after ETV Bharat on Wednesday enquired if any cognizance has been taken on the matter.
"NHRC has taken cognizance of a complaint about several dead bodies found floating in the river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It has issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of both the States and the Secretary, Union Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation) calling for immediate action taken report within four weeks", the NHRC said in a statement.
Read: Scores of dead bodies again found floating in Ganges River
Commenting on the issue, Joint Registrar ( Law), NHRC, Sunil Arora told ETV Bharat that the law is settled by the Supreme Court that all dead people also have the right to proper cremation and proper performance of last rites.
Adding that the issue is definitely a matter of concern, Arora said, " We have sent notices to the concerned authorities and further development will depend on the reports from the authorities. Next, they will have to submit the factual reports and if required, the NHRC will make recommendations".
Issuing the notices, the commission has observed that it seems the public authorities have failed to take concentric efforts in educating the masses and checking the immersion of half-burnt or unburnt dead bodies into the River Ganga.
The commission in the issued statement said that the practice of disposal of dead bodies in the sacred river Ganga is clearly in violation of guidelines of the National Mission for Clean Ganga project of Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation.
Read: Bodies wash up near Nath Baba ghat in Bihar
The commission said that the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016, which relates to the measures for prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution in the river Ganga and to ensure continuous adequate flow of water to rejuvenate the River Ganga to its natural and pristine condition and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, has laid down not only the comprehensive principles to be followed for rejuvenation, protection and management of River Ganga but also cast a duty that - "No person shall do any act or carry on any project or process or activity which, notwithstanding whether such act has been mentioned in this Order or not, has the effect of causing pollution in the River Ganga".
It noted that the complainant dated 11th May 2021, based on several media reports, has expressed apprehensions that these dead bodies were of Covid victims, hence, the disposal of dead bodies in such a manner may seriously affect all those persons, who are dependent on the holy river for their day to day activities.
Even if these dead bodies were not of Covid victims, then such practice/incidents are shameful to the society as a whole as that amounts to a violation of the human rights of even deceased persons, NHRC reiterated. The complainant has sought the intervention of the Commission for strict action against negligent public authorities, who have failed to prevent such incidents.
