Following a plea seeking directions against withdrawal of groundwater by International Recreation and Amusement Limited in Gurugram, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a panel to ascertain whether river water is being diverted for commercial purposes.
Observing that the issue is not of withdrawal of groundwater, a Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel set up a panel comprising representatives from the Union Environment Ministry, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) and Gurugram District Magistrate.
The Bench told the panel to “review the existing policy of permitting supply of water for commercial purposes, when there is scarcity of drinking water, and whether the water is being diverted from the river supply for commercial use without affecting e-flows”. It asked the panel to submit a report by February 28, 2019. It also said that the CPCB will be the nodal agency.
The directions came while the NGT was hearing a plea moved by Harinder Dhingra, who has alleged that Apu Ghar uses 1.8 lakh litre of water per day. It was alleged that the Haryana Urban Development Authority was supplying water from the river water meant for irrigation.
“The water supply for drinking purposes is erratic in Gurugram. It has been declared as a notified area for regulation of groundwater by the CGWA. After assessment, Gurugram district is found to be over exploited, where groundwater withdrawal is more than the average replenishment,” stated the plea.
The amusement park, however, contended that rain water harvesting is being done and sewage treatment plants have been installed to recycle water for horticulture.