National Green Tribunal raps DDA for delay in laying water pipeline

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has rapped the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for not starting work on laying a pipeline to supply treated sewage water for gardening in a South Delhi colony and slapped a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on it for the delay.

A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore noted that despite its October 2017 order, the DDA has not initiated the work till date. “There was sufficient time since the month of October 2017 for the DDA to have done the needful in compliance to the directions issued by the tribunal on October 26, 2017. Therefore, we direct compensation of amount of `1 lakh to be paid by the DDA which shall be deposited with the NGT Legal Aid.

The bench said : “We make it clear that directions issued to DDA be complied with within four weeks from today. The concerning officer of DDA shall remain present before the tribunal on the next date of hearing.”  The tribunal directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to ensure supply of treated water for the purpose of gardening.

The green panel had earlier directed the civic authorities to file an action taken report on making a pipeline operational to supply treated sewage water for gardening in Vasant Kunj. The tribunal had earlier prohibited the residents, DDA, SDMC and DJB from using fresh water for gardening purposes.

The DJB counsel had earlier told the bench that there was a sewage treatment plant in Vasant Kunj in south Delhi from where treated sewage water can be provided to the residents for the purpose. The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by retired Rear Admiral A P Revi seeking directions for treated sewage water supply in Vasant Kunj for gardening  etc so that they don’t have to use fresh water.