Delhi govt seeks more time to reply on illegal bore wells

The Delhi government today sought more time from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for filing its reply on a plea alleging that water smuggling mafia is behind illegal bore wells in Delhi and authorities are either "hand-in-glove" with them or "turning a blind eye" to such activities.
A bench headed by Justice P Jyothimani granted time to the government till November 11 to file its reply, when it has also asked Delhi Pollution Control Committee to submit its response.
The Tribunal is hearing petition filed by Raj Hans Bansal alleging that illegal extraction of groundwater through bore wells "is being conducted by full fledged water smuggling mafia and police and other authorities concerned are turning a blind eye to these activities or acting hand-in-glove with such mafia".

In his petition, Bansal has submitted that according to a July 2010 notification issued by the Lt. Governor of Delhi, "No person, group, authority, association or institution shall draw groundwater through bore wells/tube wells without the prior permission of the CGWA, DJB or the NDMC for any domestic, commercial, and agriculture purpose."
He has alleged that despite the notification, "several illegal bore wells are operating throughout Delhi" and are "causing excessive loss of groundwater and thereby leading to ecological and environmental imbalance".
The petition has also alleged that "permission for these illegal bore wells are obtained through illegal gratification to officials of DJB and NDMC".