DJB tells NGT 3,800 bore wells shut by residents in Delhi

DJB tells NGT nearly 3,800 illegal bore wells shut by residents of Delhi

• According to reports, 153 bore wells were untraceable due to incomplete or incorrect addresses, while five in south east Delhi were regularized through District Level Advisory Committee approvals.
• Out of 4,033 illegal bore wells in Delhi, nearly 3,800 have already been shut down by residents, according to an action taken report submitted by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).
• The report, dated 9th September, submitted to National Green Tribunal (NGT), talked about the issue of the illegal bore wells in compliance with the NGT order on 28th May this year.

What did the report mention?

• “In particular, the tribunal found that categorising all 4,033 borewells under one vague head was unsatisfactory and directed DJB to clarify how identified borewells became untraceable and to verify the place and manner of closure of those stated to be closed,” the report stated.
• Following the NGT order, DJB found that 3,875 illegal bore wells had already been shut down by the residents and no longer existed.
• “In these cases, the borewell structures have been dismantled or filled up voluntarily, prior to or during the investigation,” the DJB stated.
• Besides that, another 153 were found untraceable because of incorrect or incomplete addresses of the premises, the Delhi Jal Board stated.
• Only five of the bore wells, all situated in south east Delhi, as per data, were discovered to have got valid approval from the District Level Advisory Committee (DLC).
• Although these bore wells were initially labelled as illegal, have been regularized through proper permissions.

Editor’s Note

• With nearly 3,800 illegal bore wells shut down by residents of Delhi, it will be interesting to see how the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in partnership with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) manage the situation. As residents become proactive and take matters into their hands, the only question that arises is what are the authorities doing? Out of 4,033 illegal bore wells, almost 3,800 bore wells have been shut down by the residents, now it is the job of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to provide the citizens of Delhi access to clean and potable water. Without the help of the authorities, the public can only do what their power permits. It is high time that the concerned authorities stepped up and do what they are supposed to do.