Green Tribunal asks govt to clean natural water bodies in 3 weeks

The green panel has also directed the government and the agencies concerned to ensure that these water bodies receive rainwater in good quantity before the onset of monsoon.

A Bench, headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, also issued notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Urban Development, Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and others, while seeking their reply within two weeks.

“We direct the NCT Delhi, CGWA and DJB to clean, maintain and restore all bodies, natural wells and other water bodies, existing in NCT of Delhi, within three weeks,” it said.

“It should be ensured that for the coming rainy season these water bodies can receive rainwater in good quantity. All three authorities NCT, Delhi, DJB and CGWA shall submit the compliance report to the tribunal on or before the next date,” the Bench said.

The next hearing will be held on August 9.The order came while hearing a plea by NGO Chetna, seeking directions to provide mechanism and a proper system for installing and maintaining eco-friendly and cost-effective techniques throughout the country for rainwater harvesting during the monsoon.

“It is estimated that on an average, New Delhi receives 611 mm of rain on a yearly basis. Therefore, even if 50 per cent of this rainwater is harvested, this may help ease the burden on regular water supply to some extent,” the plea said. It added: “It may also help in recharging the depleting water table, which is depleting at an alarming rate due to large-scale extraction of groundwater, which needs to be compensated through cost-effective and substantially effective implementation of rainwater harvesting techniques.”