Nearly a year after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered an investigation into alleged illegal groundwater extraction in Central Delhi's Paharganj, the Delhi government has admitted that a high-level enquiry remains unfinished. The probe, which involves 536 hotels and guest houses, is still examining potential negligence by officials.
Incomplete Probe and Recovered Fines
The Delhi government recently informed the Tribunal that the inquiry, being coordinated by the Revenue Department with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the Environment Department, and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), is at an advanced stage. It is scrutinizing the volume of groundwater extracted, the resultant financial loss to the state, and the conduct of officers stationed in the Paharganj area since 2014-15.
Interim data reveals that the DPCC has levied environmental compensation on 441 hotels and guest houses at ₹1 lakh per unit. Of the total penalty, ₹4.32 crore has been successfully recovered. Recovery notices have been issued for the outstanding balance of ₹18 lakh.
New Borewell Policy Remains in Limbo
This delay in the probe coincides with the Delhi government's failure to notify a new comprehensive borewell and groundwater extraction policy. The policy is intended to regulate groundwater usage across the capital. The NGT had earlier indicated a timeline for its finalization.
In a September 10 order, the NGT noted that the DJB was preparing the comprehensive notification and directed it to be finalized quickly, preferably within six weeks. This deadline ended in late October. However, in submissions filed earlier this month, the DJB stated that the notification is still pending.
The Board clarified that the new policy is in an advanced stage of preparation with the Environment Department but has not been finalized or made official. The DJB emphasized that the Environment Department is the nodal agency for framing and enforcing groundwater policy, while its own role is limited to technical and operational support.
Outdated Regulations and Monitoring Gaps
Currently, the capital operates under a 2010 notification for groundwater extraction. This old framework does not mandate universal metering of borewells or establish quantity-based charges for groundwater use. Under existing rules, water meters can only be installed on legally approved borewells cleared by District Level Advisory Committees (DLACs), leaving a majority of borewells without routine oversight.
In Paharganj, the assessment of groundwater extraction is currently based on meters installed on borewells in just 22 establishments. The DJB has argued that the absence of meters does not equate to a revenue loss for the government. However, this lack of mandatory metering makes it extremely difficult to independently gauge the scale of extraction, particularly in densely populated zones.
While establishments may not be legally required to install meters, the environmental impact of unregulated usage is significant. A recent Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) assessment highlighted increasing stress on aquifers due to exploitation. The report showed that over 24% of groundwater samples in Delhi exceeded safe limits for nitrate, around 10% for lead, and 15.66% for uranium.
The ongoing situation underscores a critical regulatory gap in managing Delhi's precious groundwater resources, even as legal proceedings and policy formulations continue to lag.
