Extending ‘polluters pay principle’ to all Delhi residents, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday made it mandatory for every household to pay a minimum environment monthly compensation of Rs100 for generating sewage. The actual amount to be paid will depend on the Property Tax or water bill paid by the household. A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that the compensation would be directly proportional to the Property Tax or water bill, whichever is higher. It further said that for those who live in unauthorised colonies, or were not paying water bills, the amount would be in the range of Rs100 to Rs500.
The green panel directed the Government, Delhi Jal Board and all civic bodies, Cantonment Board, power distribution companies and other civic authorities to require payment of environmental compensation on the Polluters Pay Principle. The Bench added that the amount will have to be paid irrespective of whether a household has sewer connection or not. “This amount would be determined by the authority concerned with reference to the construction existing on the plot,” the Bench said, adding that it shall be deposited with the Government. It made it clear that payment of “environmental compensation” shall be added to electricity bills, water bill and the Property Tax... demand in order of preference by the respective departments which will transfer the money to the Delhi Government.
Expressing concern over the sewage system in the national Capital, the Tribunal said that there is total commonality of the object between all the stakeholders to ensure that sewage system in NCT, Delhi, and River Yamuna both should be restored to their pristine and glory. “The entire pollution of river Yamuna, 76 per cent pollution is generated in NCT, Delhi, which results from discharge of industrial effluent and untreated sewage. There are a number of drains which carry these effluents to Yamuna and with the passage of time have converted it into stinking drain of effluents and sewage,” it said.
The bench also directed Delhi Jal Board to submit the complete action plan and timeframe for completion of first phase of the project “Maily Se Nirmal Yamuna” Revitalisation Plan, 2017 within one week. “We permit DJB to finalise its action plan within the stipulated period and invite the tenders within 45 days...We make it clear that we will not grant any further extension and the erring officer would be personally liable for default,” the bench said while directing it complete this project as expeditiously as possible and “in any case not later than 2016”. The observations came while monitoring the implementation of its “Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017”.