NGT forms monitoring committee to prepare action plan on groundwater recharge in Delhi

The National Green Tribunal has formed a monitoring committee headed by a former high court judge to prepare a time-bound action plan on groundwater recharge in the national capital.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said mere finalisation of the action plan without oversight of its implementation may not achieve the desired purpose.

The committee will be headed by Justice (retd) S P Garg and comprise one representative each from the Delhi Jal Board, Central Pollution Control Board, Central Ground Water Authority and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) concerned, it said.

"Apart from finalising the action plan in the light of suggestions of other stakeholders, the suggestion mooted is to have an independent monitoring committee which can constantly monitor the situation for about six months to enhance the availability of groundwater by adopting suitable measures, check contamination and take final call on the plans for proper utilisation of treated effluents...

"The committee will take stock of all actions taken so far and prepare time-bound action plan to deal with the problem and ensure its implementation," the bench said.

The green panel said the panel may take help of technical experts and also carry out visits to sites whenever necessary.

"They will be entitled to all logistic support for performing these functions which shall be provided under the directions of the chief secretary, Delhi.

"The monitoring committee may also set up a website for receiving and giving information on the subject. The committee may also involve educational institutions for awareness and feedback about results," it said.

The NGT directed that the committee will also take an urgent call on the issue of supply of drinking water to areas where it is deficient.

The tribunal directed the Delhi chief secretary to provide all facilities to the committee to perform its functions and asked the panel to send its periodical reports to it by e-mail.

"The committee may assume its charge within two weeks from today. The committee may prepare action plan which shall have targets of ensuring compliance. It may meet at such intervals as considered appropriate but twice in every month and fix targets for compliance," the bench said.

It had earlier directed the Delhi government to act against unauthorised water extraction in the national capital.

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 said "stinking and dirty" water was flowing through water supply lines and borewells were pumping out contaminated water.

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