NGT seeks DJB response on fund utilisation for river Yamuna

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal today directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to apprise it on how it planned to utilise Rs 1400 crore sanctioned under Centre's Namami Gange project for the Yamuna sewage system.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar asked the DJB to file an affidavit to say what amount it would contribute to the project and how and for what would it use the funds provided by Centre.

The tribunal also asked DJB to respond to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the sewage projects.

The bench's direction came after it was informed by Water Resources Ministry that around Rs 1400 crore has been sanctioned for Yamuna sewage system under Namami Gange project.

The green panel had earlier directed DJB to furnish the expenditure plan under the current budget on river Yamuna with respect to cleansing and sewage system.

The NGT, which had earlier restrained DJB from spending money on Yamuna, had asked it to submit complete details of works they planned to complete and the funds needed for it.

The panel had directed DJB not to surrender the amount allocated to it in the last fiscal for rejuvenation of Yamuna to the Delhi government.

The tribunal had also made it clear that the board would spend these funds during the year for implementation of its 'Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project'.

On March 21, the tribunal had slammed DJB for spending money on Yamuna without its permission and directed it not to spend a "single penny" on rejuvenation of the river without its approval.