Editor Mr.Mayank Rawat ( Chief Editor Mr. Rohit Mishra )
New Delhi: Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has told National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it has identified 22,010 illegal borewells up to March 18, and of these, 13,693 have been sealed.
Besides, DJB has granted no-objection certificates (NOCs) to 1,119 borewells and rejected 900 applications.
NGT was hearing pleas related to the illegal extraction of groundwater. In an order, dated Aug 28, 2024, NGT directed DJB to conduct surveys from time to time to identify illegal borewells and take action according to environmental laws, standard operating procedures and directions issued by the Supreme Court and the tribunal.
In a report dated March 19, DJB told the tribunal that illegal borewells were to be sealed by the district magistrates, and that it was pursuing the matter with the officials.
“DJB has also provided a list of illegal borewells to the DMs, and the lists of identified borewells have been uploaded on DJB’s website,” the report said. On this, an online meeting on March 13 was also held by the CEO of DJB with all district magistrates for expediting the sealing.
Of the 22,010 illegal borewells, the highest number — 9,128 — was found in north-west Delhi, followed by south-west Delhi that had 6,926 illegal borewells. The lowest number was in New Delhi: 85.
The report said DJB had received 2,610 applications for NOCs for borewells.
Of these, 1,119 applications were granted NOC, and 900 were rejected, while the remaining are being processed. The report said the highest number of borewells to get NOCs — 455 — were in south-west Delhi, followed by 384 in New Delhi.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee has told NGT that it has transferred Rs 19.62 crore, including the environment compensation received for illegal borewells, to the divisional commissioner for revival of water bodies.
Mayank Rawat
