NGT tells Delhi schools, colleges to harvest rainwater

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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday directed all schools and colleges in Delhi to install rainwater harvesting system on their premises in two months, failing which they will pay Rs 5 lakh as environment compensation cost.

A NGT bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the Delhi government to issue notices to all private and government schools and colleges within three days.

"Any institute not complying with the direction shall be liable to (pay) environment compensation cost of Rs 5 lakh," Kumar said.

The NGT said exemption would be given to institutions where such installation was not possible.

However, they will have to obtain a certificate from a committee constituted by the NGT and set up rainwater harvesting system in a neighbouring area demarcated by the committee.

The committee will have senior officials from the Delhi Jal Board, Public Works Department and the Central Ground Water Authority.

The committee will meet twice a month to deal with applications for setting up rainwater harvesting system.

--IANS

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