NGT tells Govt, DJB to meet over depleting water issue

New Delhi : The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday directed the principal secretary of the AAP government and the CEO of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to hold a meeting on the issue of extraction of water by industries in Narela and Bawana industrial areas. 

A bench, headed by NGT chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar, asked the officials to meet on Thursday and inform the tribunal about their stand on extraction of water through borewells in highly-exploited areas and devise alternatives to illegal way of drawing water.

It directed them to submit the minutes of the meeting. Earlier, it  rapped the Delhi government and the DJB over illegal borewells in Narela and Bawana industrial areas, which has led to serious depletion of water levels.

The NGT took exception to the “abuse” of its interim order  by the government to allow borewells in these areas. It was hearing pleas filed by NGT Bar Association and Raj Hans Bansal.