NGT directs Delhi govt to seal illegal borewells in two weeks

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi government to act against unauthorised water extraction in the national capital and directed it to seal the illegal borewells within two weeks.

A bench headed by acting NGT Chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to submit the list of all illegal borewells running without permission.

The order came after Delhi government told the tribunal that the concerned Deputy Commissioners of Revenue department could not seal the illegal borewells as they did not receive complete information about them from the DJB, as was directed by the tribunal.

The DJB counsel opposed the submission and said they had already furnished information about 4,872 borewells to the concerned Deputy Commissioners.

"We direct the DJB to once again furnish fresh set of statements to the counsel representing Delhi government and Department of Revenue to avoid such controversy in future. Upon furnishing of such information, the counsel shall take further steps and ensure that Deputy Commissioner concerned comply with the orders of this tribunal dated January 30, 2018 within two weeks from now," the bench said and listed the matter for further hearing on April 27.

The tribunal had on January 30 directed the Delhi government to seal all unauthorised borewells in the national capital within three months.

It had also directed the authorities to mark the borewells, which were discharging contaminated water containing high levels of fluoride and arsenic, in red colour to apprise the public that the water was unfit for consumption.

The NGT had also rapped the civic bodies for not submitting data on the quality of water supplied to households in the national capital by the Delhi government despite repeated directions.

The appalling picture of water supply in the capital had prompted the tribunal to seek the response of the city government in the matter, after taking suo motu cognisance of a media report that "stinking and dirty" water was flowing through water supply lines and the borewells were pumping out contaminated water.

Later, it had constituted a committee comprising Secretary (Environment) and representatives from Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, DJB, Central Pollution Control Board and all municipal corporations and asked them to submit a complete and comprehensive report.