Tell us the number of authorized borewells in Narela and Bawana: NGT

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has directed Delhi government and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to inform it about the total number of authorized borewells which are registered with the administration in Narela and Bawana industrial areas here.

A bench headed by Justice U D Salvi also directed DJB to submit the total amount collected as water cess from these industrial units for extraction of groundwater for commercial purposes.

"Delhi Jal Board shall place before us amount collected so far for extraction of groundwater for commercial use. Delhi government and DJB shall place before us the total number of authorized borewells in the entire region," the bench said while posting the matter for next hearing on August 20.

The Tribunal was hearing petitions filed against illegal use of groundwater in Delhi and the borewells operating in industrial pockets, including at Bawana and Narela here.

During the hearing, DJB told the bench that a committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner to detect illegal tapping of groundwater was in place and efforts are being made to check illegal extraction of ground water.

With regard to collection of water cess from industrial estate in Bawana and Narela, DJB said Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (DSIIDC) had deposited Rs nine crore with the Board for supply of 45 million litres per day of water and the industrial units have separately deposited Rs 8.75 crore.

DSIIDC told the bench that the extracted ground water was being used for industrial purpose and later on the effluent is delivered to Common Effuent Treatment Plant (CETP) for treatment.

It also informed the bench CETP treats the effluent generated by the industrial units of Bawana and Narela and later on discharges the treated water in drains.

When the bench asked DSIIDC about the utilization of treated water generated by CETP, it said that a separate pipeline from CETP to industrial units have to be laid for recycling purposes which will lead to dual piping system from CETP to industry.

The Tribunal also directed DSIIDC to place "technical and financial" feasibility report in respect of the project of recycling the CETP treated water in industrial cluster and asked it to identify bulk users of the treated water.