The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) about the withdrawal of 10% rebate granted in water bills from 119 societies in Dwarka. Alongside, the authority also issued disconnection notices after rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems that were either found missing or non-functional.

The Delhi Jal Board has also written to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to impose an environmental compensation (EC) on societies polluting the groundwater table.

The National Green Tribunal has been involved in the matter since February 2023, after the Dwarka residents alleged that RWH pits in the sub-city were leading to groundwater contamination. After a joint inspection by the NGT-appointed expert committee in May 2023, it was found that RWH pits at 235 societies in Dwarka had high amounts of ammoniacal nitrogen and total dissolved solids in 180 out of all the societies.

“The DJB, as per the findings of the survey conducted, has sent a letter to DPCC dated January 1, 2025, for imposing EC to defaulters,” said a submission dated 22 July. It also said that on the same day, a report was sent to the Director (Revenue) for imposing penalty.

Investigation Suggests…

“The Director on March 24 informed that the 10% rebate on RWH in water bills in the said 119 societies where RWH system was not found to be functional has been withdrawn… among these, eight did not have fecal coliform and ammoniacal nitrogen. In 19 of these, fecal coliform was still found. Another nine societies were found dry and samples will be collected in the monsoon season,” the report stated. A punitive action for each of these 119 societies was warned — that their water supply will be disconnected if corrective actions are not taken at the earliest.

After the notice was published, a total of 55 societies responded.

The Delhi government made RWH systems mandatory in 2012. As per the law, failing to do so will attract a penalty of 1.5 times the water bill amount. A 10% rebate is given on the water bill if the RWH system is installed. This system is mandatory for government buildings in Delhi. However, maintenance of these structures has been a big issue since long.