A National Green Tribunal (NGT) bench, headed by justice Jawad Rahim, has imposed an environment compensation of Rs three lakhs each on four builders, over faulty rainwater harvesting systems installed by the developers, after perusing the inspection report filed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). During the proceedings, the DPCC told the tribunal that some of the builders have removed the deficiencies pointed out to them and rectified the problem in their rainwater harvesting structure.
“We are satisfied that as of now, the noticees appear to be compliant. However, for the violation they have committed, compensation has to be imposed. Thus, the amount of compensation payable by the notices shall be Rs three lakhs each and it shall be deposited within three weeks,” the bench said. The green panel also issued notices to the managing directors of Naman Builders Ltd and Brightways Housing and Land Development Pvt Ltd, asking them to appear before the panel on October 12, 2017, the next date of hearing.
See also: NGT stays construction of artificial lakes in south Delhi
Taking several hospitals, malls and hotels in Delhi to task, for not complying with its orders on rainwater harvesting, the NGT had in 2016, imposed fines and issued warrants to many of them for not installing these systems. The green panel was hearing a plea by environmentalist Vikrant Kumar Tongad, who had sought directions to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, to ‘install proper rainwater harvesting systems’ on all its existing, proposed and under-construction metro stations, tracks and depots. The green panel, however, had widened the ambit of the petition and incorporated various other institutions like hospitals, hotels and malls.
