New Delhi [india], August 20 (ANI): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) 4 weeks to answer allegations of non-compliance with its instructions regarding rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge programs within the nationwide capital.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, together with skilled member Afroz Ahmad, handed the order on August 19 whereas listening to an execution utility filed by Mahesh Chandra Saxena.
The Tribunal granted time to the DJB to acquire directions on the allegations and file an additional compliance report. The matter has been listed for October 27, 2026.
The proceedings relate to the Tribunal’s earlier instructions regarding rainwater harvesting programs (RWHS) and measures to stop contamination of groundwater throughout recharge.
According to the tabular be aware positioned earlier than the Tribunal by the applicant, a number of instructions allegedly stay unimplemented. The allegations relate to DJB in addition to different businesses together with DDA, NDMC, MCD, NHAI and others.
One of the important thing instructions requires rainwater harvesting programs to not be put in near storm-water drains, in order to stop contamination of groundwater throughout the recharge course of.
The applicant has alleged that rainwater harvesting programs have continued to be put in in violation of the Tribunal’s earlier instructions.
The applicant has additionally alleged that piezometers, that are used to watch groundwater ranges and the standard of recharged water, haven’t been put in as required. The utility states that even after a number of years, not a single piezometer had been put in by the DJB.
The earlier instructions additionally require separators to be put in to take away pollution earlier than water is recharged into the bottom.
Another subject raised earlier than the Tribunal considerations the depth of recharge borewells. The instructions require the borewells to be at the least 5 metres above the static water desk. The applicant has alleged that a number of recharge borewells are a lot deeper than this requirement.
The applicant additional alleged that poor rainwater harvesting programs haven’t been closed and that such programs proceed to function, together with close to storm-water drains.
The report additionally refers to motion taken by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). According to the fabric positioned earlier than the Tribunal, the DPCC had issued show-cause notices to DDA and MCD regarding alleged deficiencies in rainwater harvesting programs and proposed interim environmental compensation of Rs 5 lakh.
Show-cause notices have been additionally issued to the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), looking for coverage pointers regarding environmental compensation for entities putting in faulty rainwater harvesting programs.
The applicant informed the Tribunal that regardless of these steps, no efficient motion had been taken on the bottom and alleged that the state of affairs had worsened over time.
The NGT, nonetheless, has not recorded a last discovering on these allegations within the August 19 order. It has allowed the DJB 4 weeks to answer them and submit its compliance report. The case will now be taken up on October 27. (ANI)