The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday directed the governments of Delhi and Haryana to convene a meeting and resolve the matter pertaining to polluted water, which is allegedly being provided by the Haryana government to the Capital.
A Bench headed by judicial member Jawad Rahim directed the chief secretaries of the two governments to meet on February 20 and settle the issue after the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) had moved an application in the tribunal.
The DJB had alleged that the water that was being supplied by the Haryana government had high ammonia content to the extent that the water could not be treated and supplied as drinking water to the people in the national capital.
The green panel passed the directions after both the authorities agreed to an amicable settlement.
During the hearing, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) informed the court that the ammonia content at the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana was 0.6 mg per litre, and 1.9 mg per litre at the Wazirabad water treatment plant in New Delhi, as on February 14.
The NGT, on February 13 had directed the apex pollution monitoring body to collect water samples from four locations, including Tanjewala in Haryana, Wazirabad water treatment plant, and the ITO and Okhla Barrage in Delhi, to ascertain the level of ammonia content in the water.
The DJB had claimed that while at the source point in Haryana, the ammonia content in the water was negligible, the source point in Delhi saw high levels of ammonia. The petition had alleged that the primary cause of pollution appeared to be the addition of untreated domestic and industrial waste in some areas, including Panipat and Sonipat.
‘Unsafe water
In its petition, the DJB claimed: “There is unsafe levels of ammonia in the water. The colour of the water being received from Haryana is blackish in colour and has a foul smell.”
