Noida builders using ground water; NGT pulls up authorities

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today pulled up the authorities for their failure to restrain builders in Noida and Greater Noida from "extracting" ground water for construction.
"What is going on?...What are your officers doing?" a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swantanter Kumar said while directing the concerned officers to conduct a surprise visit of construction sites.
The Tribunal's observation came after Noida resident Vikrant Kumar Tongad, in an affidavit, told the bench that he had visited certain construction sites on August 14 and found that a few builders were withdrawing ground water in violation of the orders of the Tribunal.

"Counsel for the applicant has placed on record an affidavit, a copy of which has been given to the counsel appearing for the Noida Authority. Let counter affidavit be filed and the officers of the Noida Authority be present in the court and also make surprise inspection," the bench said.
On January 11 last year, the bench had restrained all builders in Noida and Greater Noida from "extracting" ground water for construction or any other purpose.
Tongad had in his plea alleged that the underground water situation has reached critical dimensions in Noida and Greater Noida and there is also a serious water pollution problem there.

The petition had also sought a stay on use of underground water by builders for construction purposes.