Groundwater misuse: HC raps Punjab
Friday, 17/05/2013
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CHANDIGARH: Observing that the Punjab government is dragging its feet on implementing directives against the use of underground water for construction work, the Punjab and Haryana high court took it to task and directed the chief secretary to ensure implementation of all directives within the next one week.
The court headed by acting chief justice Jasbir Singh directed on Thursday that all directives issued by the high court, Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) and the union ministry of environment and forests should be implemented in letter and spirit.
“If the misuse of underground water continues in this fashion, a day will come when there will be no water left for drinking purpose,” said justice Rakesh Kumar Jain, speaking for the bench.
The court said in case of non-compliance of court directions before the next date on May 23, the chief administrator of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) and the secretary, local bodies department, Punjab, shall remain present in the court.
“You people (government) frame policies but do not implement them. You wake up only when the court intervenes. Then you complain that courts are interfering in administration. This cannot be appreciated,” said the acting chief justice.
The directions came on a public interest litigation filed by advocate HC Arora when the counsel appearing for PUDA and the state government were passing the buck on to other authorities such as the municipal corporations/ councils and deputy commissioners.
The petitioner had sought the enforcement of various notifications issued by the CGWA. The latter had declared 46 blocks in Punjab “notified areas”, banning the use of groundwater in construction.
On the earlier date of hearing, the high court had directed PUDA to ensure the installation of electric water meters on borewells so as to ensure that builders do not use underground water for construction activities, resulting in depletion of underground water.
