The National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) for failing to create single discharge points from slum clusters to trap sewage and for not cooperating in proceedings. In response, DUSIB stated that the measure is impractical due to topographical and land constraints. It reiterated that installing sewer lines is the responsibility of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), not DUSIB.
Background of the Case
The tribunal is hearing various pleas, including one by the Nizamuddin West Residents Welfare Association (RWA), demanding remedial measures to treat the Barapullah drain and its subsidiary drains. Residents claimed that many areas of South Delhi were waterlogged during the monsoon due to the non-desilting of these drains.
DJB's Position
Referring to drain numbers 11 to 18, DJB informed the NGT during a hearing on May 21 that since DUSIB is not providing a single discharge point for untreated sewage, DJB is not in a position to stop the discharge of untreated sewage into stormwater drains.
DUSIB's Affidavit
In a new affidavit, DUSIB said, “In a joint inspection on November 27 last year of several JJB clusters, even DJB recognised that the laying of sewer/drainage lines, or connecting the JJB clusters to a single discharge point, was infeasible on account of lack of space.”
DUSIB added that bringing the sewage or sullage of an entire JJB cluster to a single common discharge point becomes highly difficult without undertaking major civil works. This would necessitate enormous expenditure from the public exchequer, not only for the works themselves but also for the rehabilitation of displaced persons. The displacement would be required due to the demolition of current structures in the JJB clusters to make way for the said works.
The tribunal had earlier directed DUSIB to ensure that each slum cluster has a single discharge point to facilitate sewage treatment. However, DUSIB maintains that the order is impractical given the ground realities. The matter is scheduled for further hearing.
