SDMC admits no environment study done prior to covering drains

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) today admitted before the National Green Tribunal that it did not conduct any environment impact study or take environmental clearance before covering and lining of storm water drains in the national capital.
The submission came less than a week after a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar had questioned the SDMC's claim that it had conducted such a study.
In view of the submission made by the SDMC, the NGT today directed all civic authorities concerned to hold a meeting to "deliberate and suggest" if it is appropriate to provide lining to and cover the storm water drains, which the tribunal observed also carried sewage apart from rain water.

The NGT directed the Delhi government to ensure that the first meeting of the committee, comprising a representative each of Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Development Authority, all the municipal corporations, Public Works Department and an IIT Professor, is held within 10 days and a report be placed before it by the next date, January 29, 2014.
If the panel finds that lining and covering of storm water drains in Delhi is appropriate, then it has to examine whether the various projects in this regard by the different authorities are "technically sound and not injurious to public health and environment".
The committee has also to state where a sewage treatment plant (STP) can be set up before sewage, other effluents and rain water collected in the drains is treated before being permitted to join river Yamuna.

The point where the STP is set up should be one where there is no possibility of any other effluent getting mixed with the treated discharge prior to flowing into the river, the tribunal said.
The NGT, meanwhile, also directed that "No authority or agency will carry out any work of construction, sealing of drainage, particularly kushak nala".
The tribunal's order came on a plea by a retired Indian Forest Service officer Manoj Kumar Mishra and Madhu Bhaduri, a former diplomat, who have opposed covering of storm drains.