LI Network
Published on: 4 August 2023 at 13:30 IST
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Principal Bench in New Delhi, has taken a significant step to address the issue of a highly polluted drain running from Sonipat, Haryana to Delhi.
The Bench, consisting of Judicial Member Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Dr. A. Senthil Vel, has constituted a Joint Committee to verify the factual position and urgently implement remedial actions.
The NGT’s directive emphasizes the need to take immediate measures to tackle the pollution problem associated with the drain.
The Joint Committee will be composed of representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), and Delhi Jal Board (DJB).
The committee is tasked with conducting on-site visits, examining the concerns raised by the applicant, and taking appropriate remedial actions promptly.
The Bench has designated the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) as the nodal agency responsible for coordination and compliance in this matter.
The case originated from a letter petition submitted by Dr. Lokesh Kumar, addressing water security concerns related to the drainage system.
Dr. Kumar pointed out that Drain No. 6, which passes through Sonipat and Kundli in Haryana, and is maintained by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department of Haryana, has become heavily contaminated with trash, garbage, silt, litter, and sludge.
Due to poor maintenance and lack of regular cleaning, Drain No. 6 has reached a critical state of degradation.
The water flowing from Drain No. 6 eventually merges into the Yamuna River, polluting the cleaner Drain No. 8 along the way. As a result, highly polluted wastewater from Drain No. 6 has forced the closure of water treatment plants in Delhi.
Dr. Lokesh Kumar requested the NGT to issue directives for dredging and cleaning of Drain No. 6 to mitigate the pollution problem effectively.
The NGT recognized the environmental implications raised by Dr. Kumar’s application, considering the enactments specified in Schedule I of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
Consequently, the Tribunal sought responses from the State of Haryana, Engineer in Chief of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, State PCB, District Magistrate of Sonipat, and Delhi Jal Board through the Chief Executive Officer.
The matter is scheduled for further consideration on November 8, 2023.