Expressing serious concern over large-scale illegal encroachments along the Ganga basin, the Supreme Court has directed the National Mission for Clean Ganga Authority (NMCGA) to submit a “comprehensive detailed report” on the current status of encroachments in its basins in various states.The Ganga flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, but its river basin extends across six more states/union territories, including Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.The order came from a Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan after a 2024 NMCGA affidavit highlighted encroachments all over the banks and periphery of the Ganga in Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.Issuing notices to all the states, the Bench posted the matter for further hearing on April 23, 2026.On behalf of appellant Ashok Kumar Sinha, advocate Akash Vashishtha submitted that there were large scale encroachments all over the banks which required immediate attention and pointed out that some parts of these riverbanks were very rich in fresh water Dolphins.Noting that the Authority’s affidavit was two-year-old, the top court sought a report on the current status of encroachments in all these states/UTs along with the steps taken so far for the meaningful implementation and execution of all the clauses of the October 7, 2016, notification issued by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.The Bench also sought to know about the impediments or hurdles coming in the way of the Authority in giving effect to the better and effective implementation of the notification and the steps the Authority intended to take to protect the river Ganga passing through all these states and ensure that the river plains and banks were free of all encroachments.It asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati seek instruction regarding directions the Authority would like the top court to issue to give a meaningful effect to the notification and to the very mission which the government has undertaken to make the river plains and the banks of the Ganga absolutely free of all encroachments.“The report should also indicate the status of the flood plain demarcation in each of the states referred to above,” the Bench said in its March 12 order.The Bihar Government counsel told the Bench that out of 213 encroachments, 58 had been demolished but the state authorities had not been able to remove the balance 145 encroachments and there were some interim orders passed by the Patna High Court and various other district courts.