DPCC fines Gayatri CGHS society in Dwarka for groundwater use

NEW DELHI: After Delhi Pollution Control Committee served a show-cause notice to a housing society in Dwarka for allegedly extracting ground water without permission, the latter has claimed that Delhi Jal Board granted it permission in 2018 to extract up to 40 kilo litres per day (KLD) through the existing tubewell following an order from National Green Tribunal.

The secretary of Gayatri CGHS Limited claims that the DPCC notice imposing environmental compensation of Rs 1 lakh is not based on facts. The representative of the society, located in Dwarka Sector-9, said that they received a show-cause notice dated July 23 on September 23.

The notice (a copy of which is with TOI) said that the compensation was being imposed for extracting groundwater illegally without permission. It added that DJB, vide its email in June, had informed that the borewell of Gayatri CGHS has been sealed for illegal extraction of groundwater.

However, the society members said it had been sealed in 2018 and then reopened. Anish Balachandran, organising secretary, federation of CGHS Dwarka Limited, said, “The tubewell was sealed in 2018 and we went to NGT where we won the case. DJB gave us permission in 2018 to extract 40 KLD of groundwater from the existing tubewell. No tubewell or borewell was sealed this year.” He added he has emailed DPCC on receiving the notice.

“We have asked DPCC to declare the show-cause notice as null and void, and withdraw it with immediate effect as it disregards facts,” the organising secretary said.

Despite repeated attempts, officials from DPCC were unavailable for comments.