Green tribunal directs Delhi pollution body to verify water quality at Dhaula Kuan lake

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to analyse water samples from Kitchener Lake in Dhaula Kuan.

Published on: May 27, 2026, 10:51:11 IST

By Jasjeev Gandhiok

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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to independently collect and analyse water samples from Kitchener Lake in Dhaula Kuan, on an application that raised questions on the claims made by the Delhi Development (DDA) that the lake had been cleaned and revived.

A petition filed by the SP-CHETNA to the NGT, contended that the Kitchener lake is entirely covered in algae, leaving no visible patch of water. (HT)

The NGT is hearing a plea filed by the Society for Protection of Culture, Heritage, Environment, Traditions & Promotion of National Awareness (SP-CHETNA). The petition contended that the lake—it covers an area of about 66 acres just behind Dhaula Kuan Metro Station—was entirely covered in algae, leaving no visible patch of water.

In a submission made last April, the DDA said bioremediation measures were being taken, with a submission before the latest hearing re-affirming that the lake was revived and faring well. However, in the latest hearing on May 21, the applicant disputed the photographs submitted by the DDA, arguing before the tribunal that the images shown were not of Kitchener Lake but of a lake nearby, and that Kitchener Lake continued to remain in poor shape.

Taking note of the objection, the NGT allowed DDA to file an additional affidavit clarifying the issue surrounding the photographs.

“To ascertain the status of water quality of the Kitchener Lake, we direct the DPCC to collect the sample from the Kitchener Lake, carry out the water sample analysis and submit the report before the tribunal,” said the bench, headed by NGT chairperson justice Prakash Shrivastava and comprising expert members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad.

The matter will be next heard on September 1.

DDA, meanwhile, told the tribunal that routine cleaning of the lake was continuing and that the existing maintenance contract remains valid till July 31, 2026, after which a fresh tender would be floated to ensure uninterrupted upkeep.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jasjeev Gandhiok
Jasjeev Gandhiok is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times, where he covers environment, climate change, the clean energy transition and wildlife at the National Bureau. Gandhiok has over a decade of experience in journalism and is based in Delhi. He has reported extensively on Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This includes the region's air pollution woes, a polluted Yamuna and on urban wildlife still thriving in the region. He joined HT in October 2021. Prior to that, he had five-year stint at The Times of India in Delhi, where he also covered Delhi, with a focus on environment and wildlife. Gandhiok has covered some recent events around the Capital too, ranging from the farmers' protests, the northeast Delhi riots and the CAA-NRC protests, reporting from the ground on all of these. He also travels across the country to report on how environment and climate change impact everyday life, while also writing on endangered species. His reports in 2019 on toxic leachate from Delhi's landfills led to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) taking suo motu cognisance and ultimately asking the state government to start bio-mining to flatten and remove all three landfills in the capital. He also closely tracks the implementation of government policies on climate, renewable energy and environmental protection. His focus remains on impactful, public-interest journalism which explains how environmental decisions affect people's everyday lives.Read More

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