'Ban construction in parched city'

Rahul Chhabra / TNN / Mar 7, 2007, 23:18 IST

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Delhi HC asked MCD to consider banning all new construction activity which adds to population load and water demand.

NEW DELHI: Setting the tone for taking drastic steps to check water shortage in the city, Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked MCD and other civic agencies to consider banning all new construction activity — which adds to population load and water demand — for the next 10 years.
"A city which does not have water to keep its toilets clean is certainly not in a position to house more people and provide them water," said a Bench comprising Justice Swatantra Kumar and Justice H R Malhotra, blasting MCD for citing water shortage as a stumbling block in providing clean community toilets.
Lashing out at the officials for showing lack of vision to solve city's problems, the Bench said: "If shortage of water is an admitted problem... have you ever expressed your helplessness, in any forum, in handling the load of increasing population?"
"Please tell your officials to stand up to their duty. Actually the whole city should stop paying water and property tax... because officials are not interested in improving environment or health facilities but are party to ruining the quality of life by not opposing proposals permitting or regularising unauthorised constructions," said the Bench.

Pulling up MCD, Justice Kumar and Justice Malhotra said: "On the one hand you say there is water shortage, on the other hand you continue to sanction building plans for 20 or 30-storeyed buildings."
"Why can't officials of MCD, NDMC and other civic agencies sit together and chart a common plan... stopping construction of new dwelling or commercial units?" the court asked.
Unless fresh construction is not banned for the next 10 years, all development will be rendered useless within the

next two years due to water shortage in the city, the court said. "You (politicians, city planners and civic
agencies) are not even prepared to go 50 km from the city. Why do new offices need to be built here when there is no water?" asked Justice Kumar and Justice Malhotra, blaming officials for creating the problem of water shortage.
The court outburst followed plea by MCD counsel Ashutosh Lohia that non-availability of water was a major problem in keeping toilets stench-free. Advocate Ashok Aggarwal, who was appointed by court for inspection of community toilets, pointed out that even in MCD's city zone — where there was no water shortage — the toilets were not being maintained properly.
Expressing anger over the reasons why treated or recycled water was not being used for cleaning toilets to save water resources, the court said: "You do not have the will to enforce guidelines that recommend using treated water for non-drinking purpose."
The court directed all civic agencies — MCD, NDMC, cantonment board — to appoint officials from the concerned departments looking after maintenance of public toilets and directed Aggarwal to co-ordinate the task of improving the state of public toilets.

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