NGT Orders Fine for Sewage Discharge into Stormwater Drain in 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.

Submission of Action Report

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.

Delhi Jal Board

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.

Outcomes of Sewage Discharge

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.

Given the clear violation of norms by either the DJB, PWD, or any other responsible authority, leading to sewage flowing into the stormwater drain for an extended period, resulting in pollution and health hazards, the tribunal stressed the necessity for the DPCC to take action to impose environmental compensation (EC) against the violator.

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