After being pulled up by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for its laxity in supplying potable water to industrial areas of Bawana and Narela, and exploitation of ground water, the Delhi Jal Board has now been directed by the Chief Secretary of Delhi Government to earmark places for tube wells in the areas in consultation with Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (DSIIDC).
A meeting, held under the chairmanship of the Delhi Chief Secretary on the issue of illegal borewells in Narela and Bawana, heard the Apex Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Bawana Chamber of Commerce.
Industrial units from non-conforming areas in Delhi were reallocated to Narela and Bawana. It was the prime responsibility of the DSIIDC to provide basic services in the area. After allotment of plots, small borewells were developed to carry on construction of the plots. The DSIIDC paid Rs.9 crore to the Jal Board for requirement of 34 million litres per day (MLD) water for Bawana and 11 MLD for Narela.
The president of the Apex Chamber of Commerce & Industry said the Jal Board had failed to supply the water required in both the industrial areas till date, which compelled industry owners to carry on with small borewells to meet their demand of water for potable purposes of the workers employed there.
The Jal Board had earlier told the NGT that it was not in a position to extend water supply to the area as raw water was not made available from Haryana, even as infrastructure for supply of water was in place. It was also noted that borewells sealed earlier have not been de-sealed. It was observed that since an attempt is being made to reach an understanding with Haryana, the water treatment plant at Bawana should be revived.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee said the water sample from the area had been tested as per the NGT order and the total dissolved solids in the samples were found to be within permissible limits.
In the meeting, it was also noted that 22 MLD water is required for making the existing plant at Bawana operative and that the commissioning of the plant will depend on availability of water on full commissioning of the Munak Canal. The minutes of the meeting were presented before the NGT.
