Ground water usage: NGT issues show cause notice to builders

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today issued show cause notices to 12 real estate developers, including DLF, Supertech and Jaypee Greens, after it was found they were using ground water for construction purposes in Noida and Greater Noida in violation of its orders.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar sought appearance of the CEOs of Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway authorities on the next date of hearing and also directed them to file on record the steps taken by them to ensure implementation of the tribunal's order banning extraction of ground water.
The bench also sought appearance of the Chairman of Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) and the heads of the builders' on the next date of hearing, September 9.

Apart from DLF, Supertech and Jaypee Greens, show cause notices were also issued to Wave Infratech, BPTP Ltd, 3C Company, ET Infra Developers, SDS Infratech in Noida and Greater Noida, Capital Infra Projects, Sunworld Residency and Paras Season Haven.
The developers have been asked to show cause why they should not be penalised for violating the tribunal's order banning extraction of ground water.
The tribunal passed the order after local commissioners appointed by it stated in their report that ground water is being used for construction purposes by the builders and that there is no other adequate source of water at any of the inspected sites.

On August 19, the NGT appointed five local commissioners to undertake surprise inspections of various construction sites in Noida and Greater Noida after the NGT was informed that indiscriminate extraction of ground water by developers is going on despite its orders.
The issue was brought to the attention of the tribunal by advocates Ritwick Dutta and Rahul Choudhary, on behalf of environmentalist Vikrant Tongad on whose plea the tribunal had imposed a ban on use of ground water by builders as well as water bottling plants.