Delhi: Dwarka residents made to pay for unplanned growth

NEW DELHI: Dwarka sub-city in South-West district has a history of water deficiency and has accordingly gone through numerous water-related agitations and civil litigations. Now hundreds of households have been served notices demanding environment compensation for illegal use of borewell water.

Delhi Pollution Control Committee has sent show-cause notices to many group housing societies in Dwarka demanding an ‘interim’ environmental compensation of Rs 30,000 for using groundwater in an illegal manner. They need to respond within 15 days from the date the notice is issued. However, many societies told TOI that such notices were being issued without field inspections.

Dwarka’s water woes are symbolic of new colonies being created without proper consideration of their water needs. When the sub-city was being set up in the 1980s, Delhi Jal Board and DDA did not provision regular water supply or a supply infrastructure. The problem eased only in 2015 with the completion of the Dwarka water treatment plant. But resident complain that while borewells have been sealed since, water supply is still not adequate.

“Earlier every society had to bore a well because there was no reliable water supply. Now most of the wells are closed. While arguing that DJB never promised water, DDA provided borewell water,” said Sudha Sinha, president, Federation of Dwarka Cooperative Group Housing Societies. “If societies get enough water, why will they use borewells?” Sinha revealed that around 80% of the 350 housing societies have received DPCC’s notice. “The pollution panel has sent the notices to everyone without any on-site inspections.”
Water is a precious and limited resource. And the water under your land belongs not just to you but is a common resource. Illegal borewells are to that extent like stealing from the community. Inadequate regular water supply is one of the likely reasons for such a practice. But this doesn’t give anyone the right to steal and accumulate water at the cost of society. The drive is both just and justified.TimesView
Sinha claimed that Dwarka had always faced the brunt of accusations over issues, such as structural safety, borewells and rainwater harvesting. “We met DPCC officials, who put the onus of inspection on DJB and the district authorities,” she disclosed. “We will submit our reply on Thursday.” The response will point out that most societies no longer use ground water and that neither DPCC nor DJB had carried out inspections to determine violations.

Countering this, a DPCC official said, “Site inspections were carried out across the city, following which the notices were issued. The notices are being sent in compliance with a National Green Tribunal order on illegal borewells in the capital. An action-taken report is also being compiled.”