NGT directs CGWA to act against illegal borewells in Gurgaon

Amid increasing water crisis in Delhi-NCR, the National Green Tribunal today directed Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) to ensure that no "illegal or unauthorised borewells" are extracting groundwater in Gurgaon.
"In Sector-37 Gurgaon, a number of tubewells have been installed to extract groundwater. It is evident that such unauthorised and illegal extraction of groundwater is going on rampantly. It is unfortunate that in place like Gurgaon and Delhi-NCR where groundwater is already depleted much more than accepted such violations are going on.
"We direct CGWA to ensure action against alleged illegal extraction of water. If pumps are operating without permission from CGWA and other authority concerned then the authorities shall seal such illegal and unauthorised extraction of water by borewells," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.

The tribunal also directed the CGWA officials to visit the site today and initiate action against the alleged offenders.
The green panel's direction came while hearing a case related to extraction of groundwater by hotels in Gurgaon.