New Delhi, March 16 -- The Supreme Court has sought a comprehensive status report on encroachments along the banks and floodplains of the Ganga across multiple states, while expressing concern that the available data is outdated and insufficient for issuing final directions.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 several 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 the hearing, the petitioner represented through advocate Akash Vashishtha highlighted that encroachments remain widespread along the riverbanks, including areas that are ecologically sensitive and home to freshwater dolphins. The bench said the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) had already indicated encroachments in several states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. However, the affidavit relied upon by the authorities was filed in 2024, and the court said nearly two years had elapsed without an updated picture....