The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has requested the Chief Secretary of Delhi to take corrective steps to enhance the situation of Lake Bhalaswa in North Delhi.
The tribunal’s principal bench issued the order on Friday after listening to a petition alleging the failure of public officers to guard the lake from air pollution and encroachment.
“The case laid down in the application is that the effluent being discharged into the lake in the form of solid waste as well as sewage. The boundary wall around the pond has been broken. This causes the water to deteriorate and become contaminated. The ownership of the water body is vested in the DDA. It is to be maintained by Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation. The North Delhi Municipal Corporation is to prevent dumping of waste. The DPCC and CPCB have to implement environmental norms, ”the order learn.
“We have given due consideration to this issue. Maintaining water bodies in their ancient glory is undoubtedly a mandatory order of law. Water bodies perform important ecological functions… Clean environment is part of the right to life and also part of the Directive Principles of State Policy, the duty of state officials is to protect it, ”the bench stated.
The tribunal directed the chief secretary to convene a gathering of representatives of DDA, DJB, Delhi Tourism and Northern MCD to “take cognizance of the problem and plan remedial measures as per law”.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
