Rapping five-star hotels and malls for not installing proper rainwater harvesting systems in their premises, National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday directed Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to conduct joint inspection and find out the level of groundwater “in and around” these malls and hotels.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also directed the hotels and malls to declare their source of water and produce complete records of the last six months by May 11.
“In view of the report of the joint inspection team, issue notice to all the defaulting hotels and malls of Delhi... The notice will be served upon the director, in-charge, CEO and other officers responsible for day-to-day conduct of business of these hotels and malls,” the bench observed.
It also asked the hotels and malls to show cause as to why they should not be directed to pay compensation for not providing rainwater harvesting systems as well as why they be not directed to pay compensation in terms of Section 15 of the NGT Act for depleting groundwater levels.
The hotels against which notices have been issued include Asian Hotels ltd (Hyatt Regency), Hotel Excelsior (Shangri-la), Hotel Jaypee Siddharth, The Piccadily, Tirupati Infraprojects Pvt ltd (Indus Hotels & Spa), Aman Hospitality (Kempinski Ambience), Eros Resorts & Hotels Pvt ltd (DoubleTree by Hilton), Eros Resorts & Hotels Pvt ltd (Hilton) and Hotel Ibis.
Besides these 9 hotels, NGT also issued notices to 23 malls/commercial complexes, including DlF Home Developers ltd, DlF Retail Developers ltd, Aditya Infra Developers Pvt ltd, Aggarwal Plaza Pvt ltd etc.
The tribunal had constituted a joint inspection team of CPCB, CGWA and DPCC while directing them to check the status of rainwater harvesting systems in hospitals, malls, commercial complex, hotels and RWAs in Delhi.
The tribunal was hearing a plea by Vikrant Kumar Tongad, who had sought directions to DMRC to “install proper rainwater harvesting system” on all its existing as well as proposed and under-construction Metro stations, tracks and depots.
The green panel, however, had widened the ambit of the petition and incorporated various institutions such as Government and private hospitals, hotels and malls.