NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to identify and levy a fine on the entity responsible for discharging sewage into a stormwater drain passing through Malviya Nagar to Greater Kailash.
The bench, comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal, and expert member A Senthil Vel, has called for an action report within three months from the committee. This directive came during a hearing on a petition alleging that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) had connected a sewer line to the stormwater drain, which is intended solely for excess rainwater.
The bench noted that, according to the DJB, no sewage has been flowing into the drain since the completion of restoration work on April 24. However, the bench highlighted that sewage was previously discharged into the stormwater drain due to damage caused to the sewer line on Basant Kaur Marg by construction work carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD) in relation to a drain.
The bench emphasized that despite the PWD’s counsel disputing any fault on the department’s part, sewage water has continued to flow into the stormwater drain, posing health risks for over three years without any action by the relevant authorities.