Act against illegal borewells, government told

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi government to act against unauthorised water extraction in the national capital and instructed it to seal the illegal borewells within two weeks. 

A bench, headed by acting NGT chairperson justice Jawad Rahim directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to submit the list of all illegal borewells running without permission.

The order came after the Delhi government told the tribunal that the concerned deputy commissioners of revenue department could not seal the illegal borewells as they did not receive the complete information about them from the DJB, as was directed by the tribunal. 

The counsel representing the water board opposed the submission and said that they had already furnished information about 4,872 borewells to the concerned the deputy commissioners.

“We direct the DJB to once again furnish a fresh set of statements to the counsel representing Delhi government and department of revenue to avoid such controversy in future. 

Upon furnishing such information, the counsel shall take further steps and ensure that deputy commissioner concerned comply with the orders of this tribunal dated January 30, 2018 within two weeks from now,” the bench said and listed the matter for hearing on April 27.

On January 30, the NGT asked the Delhi government to seal all unauthorised borewells within three months. It also directed them to mark the borewells, which were discharging contaminated water containing high levels of fluoride and arsenic, in red colour to apprise people that the water was not fit for human consumption.

The NGT also rapped the civic bodies for not submitting data on the quality of water supplied to households in the city by the Delhi government despite directions. 

The appalling picture of water supply in the city had prompted the tribunal to seek the government ‘s response in the matter, after taking suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report that “stinking and dirty” water was flowing through water supply lines and the borewells were pumping out contaminated water.

Later, it formed a panel comprising secretary (environment) and representatives of Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, DJB, and civic bodies to submit a report.