National Green Tribunal has directed Delhi Government to submit a detailed list of resident welfare associations (RWAs) in the city in order to bring them under the ambit of Rainwater Harvesting System (RWHS). The green panel, which had directed Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to submit a detailed status report on RWHS, said that complete information with regard to RWAs was necessary to find out how many of them have installed them.
A Bench headed by Justice UD Salvi said, "While expressing concern for the installation of RWHS on Residential Welfare Association premises, Central Ground Water Authority and DJB were directed to place status report in that regard before us… DJB has accordingly placed the Status Report...However, for scrutinising the actions of all RWAs in Delhi, it is necessary that complete information is available so as to enable it to find out how many amongst them have the RWHS and how many do not."
"We direct the respondent no 5 Government of NCT of Delhi to furnish a list of Residential Welfare Associations in Delhi registered with Registrar under the Society Registration Act before us," the bench added.
The matter is posted for next hearing on September 22. The NGT had earlier directed DJB to submit a detailed status report on the installation of rain water harvesting systems in the State.
It said a petition seeking the installation of rainwater harvesting systems in hotels, hospitals and malls in the national capital has been pending before it for the last three years and added that the process in housing societies should be pursued simultaneously.
During the hearing, an assistant engineer of the Delhi Jal Board had told the green panel it has started three rain centres at Dwarka, RK Puram and lajpat Nagar.
Taking several hospitals, malls and hotels to task for not complying with its orders on rainwater harvesting, NGT had last year imposed fines and issued warrants to many of them for not installing these systems.
The NGT was hearing a petition by Noida resident 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 has widened the ambit of the petition and incorporated various other establishments like hospitals, hotels and malls.