Groundwater Plan: NGT Orders Inquiry

New Delhi: Calling the voluntary disclosure scheme (VDS) to extract groundwater a ‘scam', National Green Tribunal has asked the chief secretary to conduct an inquiry and ascertain the loss from unregulated drawing of groundwater in the name of ‘non-existing' VDS in Paharganj.
The tribunal observed that the VDS was not framed but was discussed during a meeting in 2014, and a public advertisement was issued for VDS based on the meeting.
A plea was filed in the tribunal by activist Varun Gulati against the illegal drawing of groundwater by guest houses and hotels in Paharganj.
In Nov 2023, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee informed the 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 DJB's VDS.
After the NGT questioned the VDS in Nov last year, Delhi govt shared minutes of meetings on VDS with the tribunal. "Counsel for the Delhi govt has admitted that apart from these minutes, no VDS exists. Though no VDS was framed, in the subsequent meeting of the committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary, (Environment) on April 21, 2014, a decision was taken to issue an advertisement in the newspaper for voluntary disclosure of the tubewells," said the NGT in an order dated Jan 29.
"What makes the matter serious is that after the voluntary disclosure by the hotels/guest houses of Paharganj, no water meters were fixed on the tubewells/borewells to measure the quantity of water extracted, and no groundwater extraction charges were charged from them," said the bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava. The tribunal said hundreds of hotels and guest houses in Paharganj for more than 10 years have been drawing groundwater without any regulation. The bench said, "Such withdrawal has been permitted by the authorities in the name of VDS, when no such VDS exists."
The tribunal asked the chief secretary to ascertain the extent of loss to the exchequer from such unregulated extraction of groundwater, extent of damage to the environment, the effect of such illegal action on the groundwater of the area, and also sought to hold the officers concerned accountable.