Rainwater harvesting: NGT seeks report on flyovers in 3 weeks

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi government to submit within three weeks detailed report on the number of flyovers in the city where rainwater harvesting systems have been installed.
A bench, headed by acting chairperson Justice U D Salvi, passed the order after the counsel for the Delhi government sought more time to file the status report.
The green panel also asked the city government's Public Works Department (PWD) whether it has made the setting up of rainwater harvesting systems mandatory under the new contracts.
"The counsel appearing on behalf of the NCT of Delhi seeks time to place on record detailed status report. Time is granted. He undertakes to file the report within three weeks. Advance copy be furnished to the counsel appearing for the applicant," the bench said.

The matter is posted for the next hearing on March 8.
The NGT had earlier rapped the Delhi government for not filing a status report on whether government buildings, bridges and flyovers, have installed rainwater harvesting systems and if these are functional.

The tribunal had directed the Centre and other public authorities to ensure that rainwater harvesting systems are installed in every project, including flyovers, bridges or any other construction activity, carried out by the government.
It had asked the Centre, the Delhi government and all public authorities to ensure that no project is approved without specific stipulation in the tender documents that they would have to construct adequate capacity rainwater harvesting systems as part of their project.

The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by Mehrauli resident Vinod Kumar Jain who wanted orders to make it compulsory for all government buildings of 100 sq m and above to have rainwater harvesting through storage of rainwater.