NGT asks Delhi govt to implement SOP to stop illegal groundwater extraction

NEW DELHI: In order to ensure crackdown on illegal extraction of groundwater in the national capital, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Government of Delhi to implement its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). A bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Chairperson, NGT, noted that 15 per cent of the ground water in the capital reached below 40 metres from the ground level. 

The Delhi government told the tribunal that the Environment Department, Government of Delhi, had prepared the SOP titled ‘Regulation of extraction of ground water, closure, prohibition of illegal activities relating to use of borewells/tubewells’. 

“An inter-departmental advisory committee has been constituted for each district to assist the Deputy Commissioners. It has been observed that often, the drilling machines/rigs are used to dig illegal borewells. The mechanism for their regulation, including registration and prior permission for movement and deployment, has also been incorporated in the SOP,” the Delhi government said.

The tribunal had earlier expressed concern over the repeated allegations of “tankers mafias” in the city engaged in the extraction of groundwater without any remedial action by the authorities.

The tribunal had also constituted an independent Monitoring Committee, headed by former Delhi high court judge, Justice S P Garg, to look into the issue.

The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by city resident Rakesh Kumar alleging that water filling plants were being operated without license and supplying contaminated water to the residents at Kashmere Gate here.