Fix norms on rainwater harvesting in hotels, malls: NGT to CGWA

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal ( NGT) has directed Central Ground Water Authority and Delhi Jal Board to fix a uniform procedure for installation of rainwater harvesting system in hotels, hospitals and malls in the national capital.

The green panel asked CGWA, DJB and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to convene a meeting within 10 days and prescribe a format and proper design for rainwater harvesting system.

"There should be a uniform procedure in respect of the rainwater harvesting system, approved by CGWA/DJB.

"As it is disclosed that there is no such uniform procedure, we direct CGWA, DJB and DPCC to convene a meeting within 10 days and fix a uniform procedure, prescribe a format as well as proper design for rainwater harvesting system to be installed by hotels, hospitals and malls," a bench headed by Justice M S Nambiar said.

It also directed that inspections be conducted in Jaypee Sidharth Hotel and IBIS Hotel to check whether rainwater harvesting systems of the two hotels were installed as per law.

NGT had recently slapped a fine of Rs 5 lakh on a real estate developer here after it was found that the rainwater harvesting system in its property was not functional.

Taking several hospitals, malls and hotels to task for not complying with its orders on rainwater harvesting, NGT had last year imposed fine and issued warrants to many of them for not installing these systems.

The green panel was hearing a plea by environmentalist Vikrant Kumar Tongad who had sought directions to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to "install proper rainwater harvesting system" on all its existing, proposed and under-construction metro stations, tracks and depots.

The green panel, however, had widened the ambit of the petition and incorporated various other establishments like hospitals, hotels and malls.