52 Builders sent notice for using groundwater

The Haryana Town and Country Planning Department has slapped showcause notices on 52 developers who were allegedly extracting groundwater using borewells illegally for construction work in Gurgaon.

The Haryana Town and Country Planning Department has slapped showcause notices on 52 developers who were allegedly extracting groundwater using borewells illegally for construction work in Gurgaon.

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In a recent survey, the department claimed to have found illegal borewells installed at 81 sites in gross violation of the July 31 directive issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court banning use of groundwater for construction work. It will file a reply on the number of borewells extracting groundwater for construction purposes in the high court on Tuesday.

The builders, however, claimed they had not received any showcause notice and would be able to comment only after studying the letter.

But real estate firms indicated that the projects will be delayed and the costs may rise as they would have to source water from private tankers. The Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has failed to lay supply lines for construction sites, the builders rued.

The developers under fire include some big players as well such as DLF, Ansals, Emaar MGF, Vatika, Raheja Developers, among others. Majority of the projects in which groundwater is being used are in Sector 58-115. More notices are likely to be issued in the coming days.

According to a spokesman of the department, the realtors have been strictly directed that groundwater should not be used for construction purpose.

The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and Gurgaon deputy commissioner PC Meena have been asked to take action for sealing unauthorised tubewells and borewells in Gurgaon.

The builders have been asked to explain within 15 days the reasons for "using groundwater for construction purposes".

Earlier the high court had prohibited the Haryana government from issuing fresh licenses to builders unless they give a written undertaking that they will not use groundwater for construction work.