We will stop running of trains: NGT tells Metro over illegal groundwater extraction
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar took strong exception to metro stations extracting ground water without permission.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday warned the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) of halting its services for not complying with its order on illegal extraction of groundwater.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar took strong exception on metro stations extracting ground water without permission.
The green court directed the environment ministry, the Central Ground Water Authority, DMRC, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and advocate Kush Sharma, counsel for the applicant, to jointly find out how many stations were withdrawing groundwater without permission and sort the approvals.
“Just because you are DMRC doesn’t give you licence to extract water without permission. You people sit together and find out how many stations are operating with or without requisite permission...You sort it out, or else we will stop the running of these trains,” the bench said.
The matter has been listed for next hearing on November 17.
The Jal Board had earlier told the tribunal that it had not granted permission to the DMRC for extraction of ground water but Delhi Metro had installed 276 borewells across the Capital for which it has no permission.
The NGT was hearing a plea filed by Delhi resident Kush Kalra alleging that DMRC was extracting groundwater instead of using waste water to wash its trains, resulting in depletion of the water table.
Submit status of plastic ban: NGT tells Delhi
The tribunal on Thursday directed the Delhi government to strictly impose a fine of R5,000 on those violating the plastic ban order and raid shops or vendors possessing such bags.
It asked the government to submit a status report on the steps taken to implement its order banning plastic.
“You (Delhi) say the ban is being implemented. You just go to a fruit seller or any shop and you will get plastic for free. It is so easily available. Why don’t you strictly recover the fines from the violators,” a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The Delhi government counsel told the bench that R32 lakh hade been recovered as fine from persons found in possession of plastic bags.
The bench posted the matter for hearing on October 31.