Water wastage under National Green Tribunal lens

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressed its concern over the wastage of water and directed the Delhi government to submit a report on the laying of dedicated pipeline to supply recycled water in south Delhi within two weeks’ time.

The top green court has directed the Aam Aadmi Party government, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to convene a meeting to address the issue and take urgent steps to prevent water wastage.

“Principal Secretary Urban Development of Delhi will be the chairman of this committee and the other senior-most officer of the department in question, will participate in the meeting. The report shall be filed within two weeks after serving copy on the applicant’s counsel,” the bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim said.

“By mutual agreement, the date of meeting is fixed on April 27 and the report shall be filed by May 5. NCT of Delhi is directed to consider the use STP (sewage treatment plant) water for the green belt also,” the bench said.

NGT also directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to ensure that the water provided through the pipeline meets the prescribed parameters.

During the hearing, the DJB counsel told the bench that the agency was ready to lay the pipeline if the cost is borne by either SDMC or DDA.

The direction came during the hearing of a plea filed by water activist Mahesh Chandra Saxena. He sought directions to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation to stop construction of a rainwater harvesting system in a South Delhi park, near the Chhattarpur temple, and restriction on ground water usage through borewells.

The petitioner sought directions for the use of recycled treated water from DJB’s STP at Qutub Metro Station to avoid wastage of water.