'Explain water source before construction'

All builders in the city have been warned to stop construction till the time they reveal their source of water.

All builders in the city have been warned to stop construction till the time they reveal their source of water.

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Even as construction by builders in licenced colonies has been banned by the high court due to depleting groundwater, SS Dhillon, financial commissioner and principal secretary, town and country planning department, paid a surprise visit to various localities on Saturday.

He was accompanied by other senior government officers.

Dhillon inspected the southern peripheral road (SPR) and conducted random checks at several construction sites.

“An FIR may be lodged against the defaulters as we have found fresh water being used at some construction sites. The workers failed to explain the source of water,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity, adding that a few big builders may face action.

“The builders will have to give an affidavit that they are using recycled treated water from the sewage treatment plants of Dhanwapur or Behrampur,” said a Huda official.

Earlier, the district administration had sent notices to 81 builders asking them to stop construction till they produce a confirmation from Huda that they are not extracting groundwater and will use recycled water.