New Delhi [India], July 21 (ANI): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has granted the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) 4 weeks to take expeditious motion and file a contemporary compliance report on the set up of digital water meters (piezometers) at accommodations and visitor homes in Delhi’s Paharganj space, observing that the Board had did not take immediate motion regardless of earlier instructions.
A bench comprising Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr Afroz Ahmad was listening to an execution software in a matter in regards to the alleged unlawful extraction of groundwater by accommodations, visitor homes and different industrial institutions working in Paharganj.
The Tribunal famous that, beneath its earlier instructions, DJB was required to make sure set up of piezometers in order that the amount of groundwater extracted from borewells may very well be measured and the suitable water fees may very well be levied.
According to the standing report filed by DJB on July 16, solely 162 out of 555 institutions had put in digital water meters. For the remaining institutions, DJB acknowledged that it had issued reminders and remaining notices on July 7, 2026 directing them to put in digital water meters or piezometers inside seven days, failing which motion could be taken in accordance with legislation.
However, the Tribunal noticed that regardless of greater than three months having handed, 393 institutions had been nonetheless extracting groundwater with none measurement mechanism in place. It additional famous that just one remaining reminder discover had been positioned on file and DJB had not disclosed whether or not related notices had been issued to all of the remaining defaulting institutions.
‘In such circumstances, we’re of the view that DJB has did not take immediate motion within the matter,’ the Tribunal noticed.
During the listening to, counsel for DJB submitted that the Board would now take expeditious motion and sought 4 weeks’ time to submit a compliance report. Accepting the request, the Tribunal granted 4 weeks for submitting the up to date report.
The Tribunal additionally handled two interlocutory purposes filed by applicant Ved Pal Bhatia in search of instructions and impleadment. It directed that copies of the purposes be equipped to all involved events inside three days and allowed the respondents 4 weeks to file their replies. (ANI)