Water panel told to fix norms on rainwater harvesting in hotels, malls

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) and the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to fix a uniform procedure for the installation of rainwater harvesting system in hotels, hospitals and malls in the national Capital.

The green panel asked CGWA, DJB and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to convene a meeting within 10 days and prescribe a format and a proper design for rainwater harvesting system.“There should be a uniform procedure in respect to the rainwater harvesting system, approved by CGWA/DJB. As it is disclosed that there is no such uniform procedure, we direct CGWA, DJB and DPCC to convene a meeting within 10 days and fix a uniform procedure, prescribe a format as well as a proper design for rainwater harvesting system to be installed by hotels, hospitals and malls,” a Bench headed by Justice MS Nambiar said.

It also directed that inspections be conducted in Jaypee Sidharth Hotel and IBIS Hotel to check whether rainwater harvesting systems of the two hotels were installed as per law. The NGT had recently slapped a fine of Rs 5 lakh on a real estate developer here, after it was found that rainwater harvesting system in its property was not functional.