NGT Directs Joint Committee To Take Remedial Action Against Sewage Flow, Toxic Gases In Delhi’s Kaushal Drain

The principal bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed a joint Committee comprising CPCB,DPCC,Delhi Jal Board and Municipal Corporation of Delhi to resolve the issue of environmental degradation caused by sewage flow in Delhi's Kaushal Drain.The bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel(Chairperson), Justice Sudhir Agarwal, Dr. A. Senthil Vel said that the committee “may look into the matter and resolve the issue with the mandate ensuring that no toxic gasses are released from the drain in question to discharge of sewage.”The NGT observed that, “treating and using sewage scientifically as per norms is the responsibility of statutory authorities like Municipal Corporation and DJB to effectuate the right of citizens to clean the environment.”The Tribunal was hearing the application filed by BLK-B (North) GK-I, RWA raising the grievances against violation of environmental norms in maintaining the storm water drain touching back of houses in B-Block, GK-I, New Delhi.The applicant submitted that the drain touches houses from B-159 to B-187. Major part of the drain has been covered but when MCD decided to cover the remaining, some NGO raised an objection before the Tribunal on sewage polluted water running into the river Yamuna.It was highlighted that in 2015 the Tribunal had prohibited covering of drains except those already covered.The Delhi Jal Board has failed to stop unauthorized discharge of seawage into the drain for over 20 years, the applicant contended.The Tribunal noted that,Kushak drain is an approximately 6.5 km-long stormwater drain near South Extension which carries stormwater and sewage from several south Delhi localities.It meets the Barapullah drain near Nizamuddin West and then flows into the Yamuna river, it added.The Tribunal observed that, “It is necessary that the same is kept free from sewage.” The Tribunal further noted that it may not be proper to permit covering of the entire.“Covering of a drain can be allowed only if a proper separate pipeline to carry sewage is provided and only rain water iscarried in the drain which is not the case here”, the Tribunal said.“Otherwise, covering the drain will result in gases getting trapped which can be hazardous”,it added.“Solution can be preventing flow of sewage into the drain andperiodic cleaning of drain including de-silting, ensuring that there is no stagnation of water”, the NGT observed.To take remedial measures the NGT has constituted the joint committee.It further directed that sewage flow may be intercepted at appropriate locations and channelised to the nearest STPs.While posting the matter to September 26,the Tribunal said that the compliance report in the matter should be filed “within four months”. Case Title: Nizamuddin West Association v. Union of India & Ors.Applicant: Dr. Sanjay Sachdeva, Applicant in Person in I.A 537/2023Counsel for respondent: Kunal Anand, Advocate for Delhi Jal BoardPuja Kalra, Advocate for MCDNarender Pal Singh, Advocate for DPCCClick Here To Read/Download Order

NGT Directs Joint Committee To Take Remedial Action Against Sewage Flow, Toxic Gases In Delhi’s Kaushal Drain

Aiman J. Chishti

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