Continuing to wield the stick against those hospitals and institutions which have not adopted efficient rainwater harvesting, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday issued bailable warrants against medical superintendents of 10 hospitals for failing to appear before it on a plea seeking implementation of the Rain Water Harvesting Systems (RWHS).
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued the warrants against medical superintendents of Anand Hospital, Mata Chanan Devi Hospital, Maharishi Valmiki Hospital, Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital, Ayurvedic Hospital, Ashoka Nursing Home, Shri Ram Singh Memorial Hospital, Indian Hospital, Charak Palika Hospital and Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital. They have been now directed to appear before the NGT on December 4, when the matter will come up again for hearing next.
Earlier, following orders by the NGT, four committees were constituted to inspect whether all hospitals had installed efficient and functional rainwater harvesting systems. The hospitals were also asked to give their replies in the form of affidavits to the committee stating whether they had installed the RWHS or not, and if they had, whether the same was functional or not.
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“...In terms of our previous orders, some of the hospitals have not responded at all to the notices issued by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee [DPCC] and are not present...We issue bailable warrant against Medical Superintendent/ Managing Director of the hospitals shown at serial nos 77, 84, 86, 87, 89, 90, 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96 in the sum of Rs.10,000 each to the satisfaction of the executing officer,” the Bench said.
During the hearing, counsels appearing for the other hospitals told the tribunal that they had taken appropriate measures and installed RWHS. Some hospitals like Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital told the committee that RWHS were not required due to the high water table in monsoon season. However, after being questioned by the tribunal, it said it would take action soon.
“Counsel appearing for other hospitals, who appeared before the tribunal, submitted that they had either taken appropriate measures and installed RWHS or will do so shortly. We accept the statement made and grant four weeks to each of the hospitals present here to install RWHS and submit a compliance report to the DPCC, which then shall inspect all those hospitals. We make it clear that in case of non-compliance, we will be compelled to take appropriate action against the non-compliant hospitals without any further notice,” the Bench added.
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On May 6, the NGT had issued notices to residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) of various colonies as well as to all government and private hospitals, including AIIMS and others, seeking their replies on the petition filed by environmental activist Vikrant Tongad.
Mr. Tongad had initially filed a plea against the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and sought directions to it to “install proper rainwater harvesting system” on all its existing as well as proposed and under-construction stations, tracks and depots.
He had been emphasising that if rainwater harvesting system is properly installed at all these stations, tracks and depots, about 6.37 crore litres of water can be saved. It was during the course of various hearings on this petition that hospitals and other institutions also caught the attention of the tribunal.