New Delhi [India], August 7 (ANI): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressed dissatisfaction with the insufficient motion taken by Delhi authorities in tackling groundwater contamination in Dwarka as a result of malfunctioning and faulty Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RWHs) in residential societies.
The matter got here up for listening to earlier than the Principal Bench led by Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member A. Senthil Vel in Execution Application, which seeks compliance with the Tribunal’s earlier order dated December 10, 2021.
The applicant, Mahesh Chandra Saxena, appeared in individual earlier than the Tribunal to emphasize the continued failure of related companies to implement beforehand issued remedial instructions.
A freshly submitted report by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), refiled on July 22, 2025, introduced alarming findings from a survey performed throughout 176 housing societies in Dwarka.
The report revealed that groundwater in 115 societies was contaminated with faecal coliform, 4 societies had fully non-functional rainwater harvesting (RWH) methods, 25 societies had dry pits, and solely 32 societies confirmed no presence of faecal coliform.
The Tribunal noticed that DJB had earlier communicated with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on January 20, 2025, recommending the imposition of Environmental Compensation (EC) on defaulting societies.
However, no substantial follow-up motion was introduced earlier than the Tribunal, elevating issues about enforcement.
In addition, DJB referred to earlier communications concerning the potential disconnection of water provide to societies that did not make their RWH methods operational inside 15 days. Yet, DJB’s counsel was unable to verify whether or not any disconnections had truly occurred. This prompted the Tribunal to demand a transparent motion taken report inside 4 weeks.
The DPCC, which had submitted a report in March 2025, requested extra time to file an up to date standing report.
The Tribunal additionally famous {that a} joint remedial motion plan involving DJB, DPCC, and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had been mandated within the authentic 2021 order. Since CPCB was not made a celebration within the present execution proceedings, the applicant has been permitted to take acceptable steps to incorporate it.
The Tribunal issued a number of instructions: DJB and DPCC should file detailed motion experiences inside 4 weeks; the applicant has been granted time to have interaction authorized counsel; and Respondent No. 6, who requested permission to file objections, has been allowed to submit their response throughout the similar timeframe. The matter is scheduled for additional consideration on November 4, 2025.
This case stems from an authentic software filed in 2021, which raised issues about groundwater contamination as a result of defective or uncared for rainwater harvesting infrastructure in Dwarka’s residential colonies. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had beforehand ordered remedial measures, together with a joint motion plan by DJB, DPCC, and CPCB. (ANI)