NGT imposes Rs 50,000 cost on DUSIB for discharge of untreated sewage

New Delhi: National Green Tribunal rapped DUSIB over the continued discharge of untreated sewage into Yamuna via Barapullah drain, particularly from JJ clusters, and imposed an additional Rs 50,000 cost for repeated delays and non-cooperation in proceedings.

The tribunal is hearing various pleas, including one by the Nizamuddin West RWA, demanding remedial measures to treat Barapullah and its subsidiary drains. Residents claimed that many areas of south Delhi were waterlogged during the monsoon due to the non-desilting of these drains.

Referring to drain numbers 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, DJB informed NGT during the hearing held on May 21 that since DUSIB is not providing a single discharge point for the untreated sewage, DJB is not in a position to stop the discharge of untreated sewage in the stormwater drains.

The bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad observed that DUSIB was fined Rs 25,000 by the tribunal in March but it failed to take any corrective action.

“DUSIB has shown its non-cooperative attitude and is not filing the reply within time, causing delay in the proceedings. Hence, we impose a cost of Rs 50,000 upon DUSIB,” said the tribunal.

It also directed DPCC to investigate untreated sewage discharge from JJ clusters and take action, including imposing environmental compensation as per law.