10-05-2025
After groundwater scheme ‘scam', Delhi govt drafting new borewell policy, green tribunal told
New Delhi: After
called the voluntary disclosure scheme (VDS) to extract groundwater a "scam", Delhi govt, in a new affidavit, informed the tribunal that a new borewell policy was being framed in consultation with
and other govt departments.A plea was filed in NGT by activist Varun Gulati against the illegal drawing of groundwater by guesthouses and hotels in Paharganj.
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In Nov 2023, Delhi Pollution Control Committee informed NGT that of the total 536 guesthouses and hotels in Paharganj, 442 were found to be extracting groundwater.
However, notices were initially issued to only 257 guesthouses as 185 were found to be extracting groundwater under Delhi Jal Board's NGT questioned VDS in Nov last year, the counsel for Delhi govt informed the tribunal that VDS was not framed but was discussed in a meeting in 2013, and a public advertisement was issued for it based on the meeting. In Jan, NGT asked the chief secretary to conduct an inquiry and ascertain the loss from the unregulated drawing of groundwater in the name of the "non-existing" VDS in a report dated May 5, Delhi govt said, "The council of ministers has also directed to prepare a new borewell policy to be placed before them for consideration at the earliest. Accordingly, the new borewell policy is being prepared in consultation with Central Ground Water Authority, DJB, revenue department, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantonment Board." It added that the new policy would be submitted to NGT after necessary affidavit stated that the additional chief secretary (revenue) would conduct an inquiry, on behalf of the chief secretary, on the unregulated withdrawal of water in the name of the non-existing VDS. "The outcome of the inquiry will be submitted to the tribunal," it also said Rs 559.88 lakh was levied towards sewer and water cess charges on guesthouses and hotels in Paharganj. Besides, there is an outstanding amount of Rs 556.39 lakh, for which notices have been issued to the hotels/guesthouses by DJB, it said."To address the extent of damage caused to the environment and the effect of such an illegal action on the groundwater of the area concerned, notices were issued to 536 hotels by DPCC on Aug 4, 2021. Four hundred and twenty-three hotels or guesthouses submitted environmental damage compensation. Fourteen hotels have not deposited EDC while four hotels have partially deposited it. The penalty recovered from violating hotels amounts to Rs 4.16 crore to date," said the report.
