The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday imposed a cost of ₹5 lakh each on educational institutions in the Capital that have not yet installed rainwater harvesting systems.
A Bench headed by NGT judicial member Justice Raghuvendra S. Rathore further slapped a fine of ₹5,000 each on three officers of the Education Department for failing to comply with previous orders passed by the Tribunal.
“We impose a cost of ₹5,000 each on Binay Bhushan, Special Director [Education]; J.P. Aggarwal, Director [Higher Education]; and Geeta Kumari, Deputy Director Education [Primary] and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is to be deposited with the NGT Legal Aid Bar Association within a week,” the Bench said.
In November 2017, the NGT had directed all schools and colleges in the Capital to instal rainwater harvesting systems within two months.
“It was also directed that the institutions, which are granted exemption, would be subject to payment of environmental cost, which then would be utilised for providing rainwater harvesting systems in the adjacent area,” the Bench observed while noting the November 2017 order. The court also asked for a list of educational institutions and the number of institutions where the system is either not functional or not installed.
Observing that the order has not yet been complied with, the Bench stated: “We direct the Registrar (Delhi University); Directorate of Education; North Delhi Municipal Corporation; Directorate of Education; East civic body; New Delhi Municipal Council; Delhi Cantonment Board and the Ministry of Human Resource Development to submit a list of educational institutions under their jurisdiction and the number of institutions where the system is not functional or not installed.”
