New Delhi | The National Green Tribunal has formed a panel to obtain a factual report on a petition claiming the Alaknanda river, one of the two headstreams of the Ganga, was being polluted by untreated sewage and solid waste.

According to the petition, the liquid waste being discharged into the river resulted from the improper functioning of the sewage treatment plant (STP) installed at Badrinath.

The petition also alleged that solid waste, including religious offerings at Badrinath Dham, was also being directly thrown in the river without being scientifically processed.

A bench of Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Member A Senthil Vel said a substantial question relating to the environment had arisen but before taking any further action, it was appropriate to obtain a factual report.

The bench constituted a joint committee comprising members from the State Pollution Control Board (PCB), the National Mission for Clean Gange, the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change's regional office in Dehradun and the Chamoli district magistrate.

It directed the committee members to visit the site, collect relevant information and submit a factual and action-taken report within two months.

The green panel said the district magistrate would be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance.

The matter was posted for further hearing on April 28. PTI