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Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
DJB withdrew water bill rebate over rainwater harvesting violation in Dwarka societies, NGT told
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it has withdrawn a 10% rebate granted in water bills from 119 societies in Dwarka, and issued disconnection notices after rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems there were either found missing or dysfunctional. The Delhi government had made RWH systems mandatory in 2012 and as per law, non-compliance can attract a penalty of 1.5 times the water bill amount. (FILE) The water agency has also written to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to impose an environmental compensation (EC) on such societies for polluting the groundwater table. NGT has been hearing a plea since February 2023, after a Dwarka resident alleged that RWH pits in the sub-city were leading to groundwater contamination. A joint inspection by an NGT-appointed expert committee in May 2023, which included members from DPCC and DJB, had initially found RWH pits at 235 societies in Dwarka, with high ammoniacal nitrogen and high total dissolved solids found in 180 of these societies. A subsequent inspection, as per a report dated March 27, had found 115 societies had faecal coliform, with another four societies not having a RWH pit operational. 'That DJB…as per the findings of the survey conducted, has sent a letter to DPCC dated January 1, 2025 for imposing EC to the defaulters,' said a submission dated July 22, apprising the tribunal of action taken so far. It said on the same day, a report was sent to the director (revenue) for imposing a penalty too. 'That Director (Revenue) on March 24 informed that the 10% rebate or RwH in water bills in the said 119 societies where RwH system was not found to be functional, has been withdrawn...' the report added, stating as a punitive action, each of the 119 societies was warned that their water supply will be disconnected if corrective action was not taken. Since then, 55 societies have responded, the water utility said. 'Among these, eight did not have faecal coliform and ammoniacal nitrogen. In 19 of these, faecal coliform was still found. In another nine societies, pits were found dry and samples will be collected in the monsoon season,' it said, adding that 12 societies had sought additional time. In two societies, RWH pits were dysfunctional, and in five, rectification work was ongoing. The Delhi government had made RWH systems mandatory in 2012 and as per law, non-compliance can attract a penalty of 1.5 times the water bill amount. A 10% rebate is given on the water bill if an RWH system is installed. It is also mandatory for government buildings in Delhi to have RWH. However, maintenance of these structures has long been a problem. DJB in March last year also issued an order, asking water consumers to ensure the run-off of waste water from balconies and parking spaces does not contaminate the groundwater through RWH pits, stating failure to do so may lead to withdrawal of the rebate provided to users.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Contamination of stored rainwater: Dwarka societies face major action
New Delhi: The Delhi Jal Board has told National Green Tribunal about cancelling the 10% rebate on water bills for 119 residential societies in Dwarka and issued disconnection notices. Laboratory tests revealed high levels of fecal coliform in the rainwater harvesting pit samples collected from 115 societies, and the rainwater harvesting system was found not functioning in four societies. DJB has also asked Delhi Pollution Control Committee to levy environmental compensation on the violators. The NGT is hearing a plea from a resident who claimed that rainwater harvesting pits in Dwarka were contaminating the groundwater. In May last year, an NGT-appointed expert committee, which included members of DPCC and DJB, took samples from rainwater harvesting pits in 235 societies in Dwarka and found high ammoniacal nitrogen and high total dissolved solids in 180 societies. A recent inspection, as per a report dated March 27, found fecal coliform in rainwater harvesting pits in 115 societies, while four societies did not have an operational rainwater harvesting pit. "DJB, as per the findings of the survey conducted, sent a letter to DPCC, dated Jan 1, 2025, for imposing EC on the defaulters," said the latest report, dated July 22. The report added that DJB also wrote to the director (revenue) for imposing a penalty too. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World Undo The report said that the director (revenue) on March 24 informed that the 10% rebate in the 119 societies has been withdrawn. It added that each of the 119 societies was issued a notice, warning that their water supply would be disconnected if corrective action was not taken. tnn You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi
Hans India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Setback for Yettinahole project as forest panel rejects extra land approval
Bengaluru: In a major setback for Karnataka's ambitious ₹23,000 crore Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Supply Project, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has refused to grant approval for an additional 423 acres of forest land that the state government sought for construction. The Yettinahole project aims to supply drinking water to the drought-prone districts of Karnataka's arid regions by diverting 24 TMC of water from the Western Ghats. The Karnataka government had in March submitted a fresh proposal requesting clearance to use an extra 423 acres of forest in Hassan and Tumakuru districts for constructing gravity canals. A team headed by DIGF Pranita Paul from the Ministry had already visited the site and flagged several violations. Their field inspection report made it clear that the additional diversion could only be permitted if the state rectified lapses and gave satisfactory explanations. However, when the Forest Advisory Committee met in Delhi on June 26 to discuss the proposal, the inspection team's report revealed that portions of forest land had already been used for project work without obtaining central clearance. The FAC noted this serious breach of norms and ordered that disciplinary action be initiated against government officials who allowed unauthorized use of forest land, and that penalties be imposed. As a result, the proposal was deferred to a future meeting, stalling the state's request for more land for now. This is not the first time the controversial project has come under scrutiny. Back in 2016, the Karnataka government had secured approval for 13.93 hectares of forest diversion, with 33 stringent conditions. However, an NGT-appointed monitoring team later found that most of these conditions were ignored. Their 2019 report highlighted massive soil erosion and landslides caused by construction, with no remedial measures undertaken. Moreover, the project is alleged to have illegally used additional forest land beyond the approved limits, damaging homes and livelihoods in affected villages, without providing any compensation to families. The project — which remains politically sensitive — has long faced criticism from environmentalists and affected communities for its potential to damage the fragile Western Ghats ecosystem and displace local populations, all for questionable drinking water returns downstream. With the FAC's refusal to clear further forest diversion and its insistence on disciplinary action against violating officials, the Karnataka government now finds itself in a tight spot. Officials must now address compliance failures, provide clear justifications, and satisfy the Centre that the remaining conditions will be met — or risk losing forest clearance altogether.
