Submit status report on RWHS in housing societies: NGT to DJB

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to submit a detailed status report on the installation of rain water harvesting systems (RWHS) in residents welfare associations in the state.
A bench headed by Justice M S Nambiar also pulled up the DJB for delay in compliance of its April 18 order that had sought information on RWHS and directed it to submit the report in three weeks.
It said a petition seeking the installation of rainwater harvesting systems in hotels, hospitals and malls in the national capital has been pending before it for the last three years and added that the process in housing societies should be pursued simultaneously.

"DJB is directed to submit a detailed status report on the progress made on this aspect within three weeks before the tribunal. List the matter on August 4, 2016, for submitting the status report," the bench said.
During the hearing, an assistant engineer of the Delhi Jal Board told the green panel it has started three rain centres at Dwarka, R K Puram and Lajpat Nagar.
The tribunal also dropped proceedings against Jaypee Sidharth Hotel after it was informed that the design of the rainwater harvesting systems was duly-approved by the DJB and was functioning properly.

Taking several hospitals, malls and hotels to task for not complying with its orders on rainwater harvesting, NGT had last year imposed fines and issued warrants to many of them for not installing these systems.

The NGT was hearing a petition by Noida resident Vikrant Kumar Tongad who had sought directions to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to install proper rainwater harvesting systems on all its existing, proposed and under-construction metro stations, tracks and depots.
The green panel has widened the ambit of the petition and incorporated various other establishments like hospitals, hotels and malls.