India, March 16 -- The Supreme Court has sought a comprehensive status report on encroachments along the banks and floodplains of the Ganga across states, while expressing concern that the available data are outdated and insufficient for issuing final directions.

A bench of justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan passed the directions while hearing an appeal arising from the disposal of a plea before the National Green Tribunal concerning encroachments along the river in Patna.

The court directed the Union government and states through which the Ganga River flows to file updated reports detailing the current status of encroachments, steps taken to remove them, and the obstacles faced in implementing environmental safeguards.

During th...