Is Drain Water Entering Delhi Or Being Properly Tapped? NGT Seeks Clarification From Haryana Govt & Pollution Board

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) principal bench has sought clarification from the Haryana government and Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) on whether diversion drain no. 6 is a stormwater drain, after it was informed that sewage and effluents from the drain were flowing into diversion drain no. 8 - one of Delhi's drinking water sources.

Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Dr. A. Senthil Vel said, "The State as well as HSPCB are required to disclose if drain no.6 is a storm water drain, whether tapping of this drain is being done as a permanent measure to divert it to the STP. Let this information be disclosed by way of affidavit within six weeks."

The observation was made while hearing a plea based on a news report of fish deaths in the Yamuna near Burari last year. Similar incidents have been reported this year, with media reports attributing the fish mortality to chemical-laden industrial discharge, hence NGT raised concerns about pollution levels in that stretch of the river.

PCB's compliance report dated 28 November 2025 details the outcome of a joint meeting held on 30 October 2025, chaired by the Member Secretary, CPCB, and attended by officers from DPCC, HSPCB, and the Haryana Irrigation and Water Resources Department.

Key decisions taken at the meeting include:

1. Inventory of Discharges Into DD-8

Haryana Irrigation & Water Resources Department and HSPCB were directed to prepare a complete inventory of all discharge points—including non-point sources from villages, industrial areas, and localities—entering DD-8.

A detailed action plan to control such discharges was to be submitted by 06.11.2025.

2. Covering of Drain No. 6

Haryana Irrigation Department was required to submit a work plan and timeline for covering remaining portions of Drain No. 6.

HSPCB was directed to file an action plan to improve water quality in Drain No. 6 by 06.11.2025.

3. Joint Monitoring of DD-8 and Yamuna

Quarterly joint monitoring (CPCB-DPCC-HSPCB) was scheduled at four locations:

• Yamuna before confluence with DD-8
• DD-8 before meeting the Yamuna
• Yamuna after confluence
• Yamuna at Burari

Monthly monitoring will also be conducted during the lean season (April–July).

The first quarterly joint monitoring for October–December is scheduled for December 2025.

4. Monitoring Period

The CPCB recommended that quarterly and monthly monitoring continue till July 2027 or as directed by the NGT, whichever is earlier.

Drain No. 6: Breach In Separation Wall Repaired

The minutes of the 30 October meeting revealed that while DD-8 is a fresh-water drain, Drain No. 6 is not, and the two drains were found mixing due to a breach in the separation wall near Akbarpur Barota.

Counsel for the State and HSPCB informed the Tribunal that the wall has now been repaired.

Survey Data Shows Heavy Inflow of Untreated Wastewater

The NGT took note of HSPCB's letter dated 21 November 2025 (Annexure-III), which discloses:

Drain No. 6 is receiving 51.124 MLD of sewage and industrial waste.

Installed treatment capacities are:

67 MLD across four STPs

46.2 MLD across three CETPs

DD-8, despite being a fresh-water drain, receives wastewater from three STPs at Gohana and Kharkhoda with a combined capacity of 15.8 MLD.

The NGT expressed concern over the continued discharge of treated and untreated wastewater into drains identified as fresh-water channels.

The matter will now be taken up next on 20 February 2026.

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