‘Lake near Tughlaqabad Fort is contaminated’
17 Oct 2014 4:32 AM IST
The submission was made before a bench of justices BD Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul by union environment ministry, which also said the high concentration of chemicals in the water may be due to discharge from nearby ‘unsewered’ areas as well as industrial activities in the vicinity. The ministry, in its affidavit filed through advocate Jasmeet Singh, said samples from the water body were tested and the reports indicated that it contained toxic elements above ‘acceptable’ limits.
During the proceedings, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation also informed the court that the lake was formed due to accumulation of waste from a nearby unauthorised colony, which is situated on land belonging to Archaeological Survey of India. It also submitted that the ‘artificial lake’ is about two-kilometres-long, 300 meters wide and 10 feet deep. It further suggested that a water treatment plant can be set up in the area by Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to treat the water so that it can be used for horticulture purposes.
The court directed the DJB to file an affidavit before 3 December in this regard. The high court, on 1 October, had pulled up the union environment ministry for non-compliance of its order to collect samples from the water body and submit a report on whether it is contaminated and affecting animals in the area.
Apart from directing the ministry to collect samples from the lake and submit a chemical analysis report of the same, the court had also asked the ministry to find out the source from where the water is accumulating in the area.
The court passed the order while hearing a PIL seeking clean water for animals and birds in the city.
The petition said water treatment plants should be set up for purifying water to save birds, animals, trees and the environment.
During the proceedings, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation also informed the court that the lake was formed due to accumulation of waste from a nearby unauthorised colony, which is situated on land belonging to Archaeological Survey of India. It also submitted that the ‘artificial lake’ is about two-kilometres-long, 300 meters wide and 10 feet deep. It further suggested that a water treatment plant can be set up in the area by Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to treat the water so that it can be used for horticulture purposes.
The court directed the DJB to file an affidavit before 3 December in this regard. The high court, on 1 October, had pulled up the union environment ministry for non-compliance of its order to collect samples from the water body and submit a report on whether it is contaminated and affecting animals in the area.
Apart from directing the ministry to collect samples from the lake and submit a chemical analysis report of the same, the court had also asked the ministry to find out the source from where the water is accumulating in the area.
The court passed the order while hearing a PIL seeking clean water for animals and birds in the city.
The petition said water treatment plants should be set up for purifying water to save birds, animals, trees and the environment.
Next Story
