Taking a strong view of big clubs in the Capital —including Chelmsford Club, Golf Club, and Masonic Club — flouting environment norms, Delhi Government’s watch dog Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has issued show cause notices to them.
It has also directed civic agencies and discoms to disconnect water and power supply to these club and area Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) have been asked to ensure the same. The notices were issued under Section 31 (A) of the Air (prevention & control of pollution) Act, 1981 and under section 33 (A) of the Water (prevention & control of pollution) Act, 1974.
DPCC member secretary Sandeep Mishra said that under Air and Water Act, the DPCC has power to disconnect water and power supply. The punitive action will follow in case of non-compliance of the directive. Top sources said that during inspection of all 25 clubs, several deficiencies were found in these clubs, that’s why show cause notices have been issued for flouting environmental norms. In some cases, it was found that no effluent treatment plant has been installed and the clubs are discharging waste into the sewer lines without any treatment.
In some cases, illegal borewells were found and the authorities have failed to show appropriate permission to the inspection team. Chelmsford Club at Raisina Road has two borewells and the club administration has no answers to the questions of the DPCC inspection team Channelisation systems for the emissions from the kitchen were also found inadequate stack height, the sources added.
Similar discrepancies were found in Masonic Club, Neeti Bagh Club, Qutab Golf Club, Panchshila Club Panchshila Park, Friends Club Friends Colony West, Gulmohar Sports cum Community Centre Gulmohar Park, Holiday Club Panchsheel Enclave and Sarvpriya Club Sarvpriya Vihar. The authorities of Chelmsford Club has assured the DPCC that it would comply the environmental norm while DCAs JCO Club Defence Colony, Gulmohar Sports-cum-Community Centre Gulmohar Park, Neeti Bagh clubs have sought more time to install effluent treatment plant.
Earlier, in a similar action, the Delhi Government has taken this step to prevent wastage of water by five-star hotels and advised them to conserve water. The hotels have also been told to examine curbing consumption of power too. Hotel owners have approached the city Government asking for more time. The clubs too have been served notices to mend their ways or face action, a Delhi Government official added.