Arpa Arpan Maha-Abhiyan vs State Of Chhattisgarh
2026 Latest Caselaw 564 Chatt

Chattisgarh High Court

Arpa Arpan Maha-Abhiyan vs State Of Chhattisgarh on 16 March, 2026

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Date: 2026.03.17
11:46:51 +0530




                                      HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

                                                      WPPIL No. 113 of 2019

                              ARVIND KUMAR SHUKLA (PETITIONER IN PERSON) versus STATE OF
                                                   CHHATTISGARH

                                           WPPIL/18/2020,WPPIL/66/2023,WPPIL/21/2020



                      16.03.2026        Heard Shri Arvind Kumar Shukla, petitioner in person in

                                   WPPIL-113 of 2019, Shri Ankit Pandey, Shri RS Baghel, Shri NK

                                   Malviya, learned counsel for the respective petitioners, and Shri

                                   Ashutosh Singh Kachhawaha, learned counsel, appearing as

                                   Amicus Curiae.


                                        Also heard Shri Praveen Das, learned Additional Advocate

                                   General, appearing for the respondent/State, Ms Annapurna

Tiwari, Shri RS Marhas, learned counsel and Dr Veena Nair,

learned counsel appearing on behalf of Shri VVS Murthy, for

the respective respondents.

Wppil 113 of 2019 and connected cases

In compliance of the Court's order dated 20.01.2026, the

Chief Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh, Mantralaya,

Mahanadi Bhawan, Nawa Raipur, District-Raipur has filed his

personal affidavit with respect to the facts of the present matter

and the relevant portion of the said affidavit reads as under:

"3. That in compliance with the aforesaid directions of

this Hon'ble Court, the State Government has initiated

various measures for identification, protection,

conservation and revival of the origin points of major

rivers in the State of Chhattisgarh.

4. That pursuant to the directions of this Hon'ble

Court, the General Administration Department,

Government of Chhattisgarh, vide order No.

GENCOR-35010/685/2026-GAD-5 dated 20.02.2026,

has constituted a State Level Committee under the

Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Government of

Chhattisgarh, for revival and rejuvenation of major

rivers of the State.

Wppil 113 of 2019 and connected cases

5. That the composition of the said State Level

Committee is as follows:

1.Chief Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh - Chairperson

2. Secretary, Finance Department - Member

3.Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development Department -Member

4.Secretary, Water Resources Department -

Member

5.Secretary, Forest and Climate Change Department - Member

6.Secretary, Urban Administration and Development Department Member

7. Secretary, Mineral Resources Department

- Member

8.Prof. Dr. M. K. Verma, Former Vice Chancellor, Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University, Durg - Expert Member.

Copy of the order dated 20.02.2026 Wppil 113 of 2019 and connected cases

constituting the State Level Committee is filed herewith as ANNEXURE-A/1.

6. That the aforesaid State Level Committee has been

entrusted with the responsibility of reviewing and

monitoring the work being undertaken by district level

committees constituted under the chairmanship of

respective Collectors for identification, protection and

revival of the origin points of the major rivers of the

State, including Arpa, Mahanadi, Shivnath, Hasdeo,

Tandula, Pairi, Mand, Kelo, Son, Tipan and Leelagar.

7. That in further compliance of the directions of this

Hon'ble Court, the Water Resources Department,

Government of Chhattisgarh, has also issued

communication bearing No. LAW/2524/2025-WRD

dated 23rd February 2026, addressed to the

concerned departments and authorities informing them

regarding the constitution of the State Level

Committee and directing them to take necessary

action in furtherance of the orders of this Hon'ble Wppil 113 of 2019 and connected cases

Court.

Copy of the said communication issued by the Water

Resources Department is filed herewith as

ANNEXURE-A/2.

8. That thereafter, a meeting of the State Level

Committee was convened under Chairmanship of

deponent on 11.03.2026 at the Mantralaya, Nava

Raipur Atal Nagar through video conferencing for

reviewing the steps taken for identification and revival

of the origin points of major rivers in the State.

9. That, during the said meeting, a detailed district-

wise review was undertaken regarding the action

initiated by the various districts for identification of

origin points of rivers. All District Collectors confirmed

that the origin points have been identified. The districts

were directed to get the origin points demarcated and

to put up displays to that effect on site, within the next

15 days. The districts were also instructed to send the Wppil 113 of 2019 and connected cases

factual details of the origin points along with copies of

the land records and geo-tagged photographs. The

Department of Water Resources was directed to issue

suitable orders for designation of the origin points,

after receipt of details from the districts.

10. That, during the said meeting, a review was also

undertaken to assess the status of the works

undertaken by the districts for conservation,

rejuvenation and protection of origin points, as well as

for conservation of rivers. District Collectors apprised

the state level committee about the efforts so far

undertaken in their districts. The districts were directed

to share the details of the work done so far and the

work plan going forward, both for conservation,

rejuvenation and protection of origin points as well as

for the rivers.

11. That in the said meeting, it was resolved and

directed, inter-alia, as follows:

Wppil 113 of 2019 and connected cases

1. That concerned department shall constitute a dedicated cell for undertaking activities relating to rejuvenation and protection of river origin points.

2. That expert advice from the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and other technical institutions shall be obtained for scientific planning of river rejuvenation.

3. That scientific surveys and studies shall be undertaken for preparation of detailed project reports for protection and development of river origin points.

4. That appropriate measures shall be undertaken to ensure proper treatment of sewage and drainage water from urban and industrial areas before its discharge into rivers.

5. That financial resources for such activities may be mobilized through departmental budgets, District Mineral Foundation funds, Swachh Bharat Wppil 113 of 2019 and connected cases

Mission, MGNREGA, 15th Finance Commission grants and other available schemes.

6. That the process of river conservation shall involve active participation of local communities, public representatives and stakeholders.

7. That the origin points of rivers may also be developed as sites of ecological significance, tourism and public awareness, while maintaining environmental balance.

8. That monitoring of water flow and water quality shall also be undertaken in order to assess the impact of the restoration activities.

9. That mapping and photographic documentation of river origin sites shall be carried out and reports shall be prepared accordingly.

10. That periodic review meetings of the State Level Committee shall be held to Wppil 113 of 2019 and connected cases

monitor the progress of the work undertaken by district authorities.

12. That the proceedings of the said meeting dated

11.03.2026 have been duly recorded in presence of 17

senior officers by physical as well as virtual mode and

circulated among the concerned departments for

necessary compliance.

Copy of the proceedings of the meeting dated

11.03.2026 is filed herewith as ANNEXURE-A/3.

13. That the meeting dated 11.03.2026 was attended

by various senior officers of the State Government and

district administrations through video conferencing,

including Secretaries of concerned departments and

Collectors of the districts concerned with the origin

points of the rivers.

14. That the State Government is fully committed to

implement the directions issued by this Hon'ble Court

and is taking all necessary steps on priority basis for Wppil 113 of 2019 and connected cases

protection, conservation and rejuvenation of the origin

points of major rivers in the State including River Arpa

and other rivers.

15. That the State Government shall continue to

monitor the progress of the aforesaid activities through

the State Level Committee headed by the Chief

Secretary, and necessary steps shall be taken in

coordination with all concerned departments and

district administrations.

16. That the present affidavit is being filed in

compliance with the order dated 20.01.2026 passed by

this Hon'ble Court.

17. It is therefore most respectfully prayed that this

Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to take the

present affidavit on record as compliance of the order

dated 20.01.2026."

On perusal of the above affidavit indicating the steps taken Wppil 113 of 2019 and connected cases

by the State Government for identification, protection,

conservation and revival of the Arpa and other rivers in the

districts, it transpires that a State level committee has been

constituted under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary,

Government of CG, consisting of many experts from different

areas, to review and monitor the work done by the district level

committees of respective Collectors. The said Committee is

also directed to take necessary action in furtherance of the

orders of this court.

At this stage, learned counsel appearing for the respective

petitioners and the petitioner in person would jointly submit that

though necessary steps have already been taken by the State

with regard to the protection, conservation and rejuvenation of

the major rivers in the State, the inclusion of additional experts

would be necessary to review and revive the status of the major

rivers and to verify and assess the effectiveness of the

measures undertaken by the State in this regard.

In view of the above, this Court is also of the opinion that Wppil 113 of 2019 and connected cases

the Committee, being headed by the Chief Secretary of the

State, should be expanded to include additional experts such as

an ecologist, a representative from the Pollution Control

Department, a representative from the Central Ground Water

Survey Board, a geologist and a hydrologist, so as to ensure

effective monitoring of the projects undertaken for the protection

and development of the river origin points in the State.

List this case for further monitoring on 7th May, 2026.

The Chief Secretary of the State is directed to file his

personal affidavit afresh in the matter by the next date regarding

the steps taken with respect to inclusion of experts as discussed

above in the State level committee constituted for revival of the

rivers in the State of CG.

                        Sd/-                                Sd/-
             (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal)                 (Ramesh Sinha)
                       Judge                            Chief Justice




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