National Green Tribunal instructs schools to install rainwater harvesting systems

Private as well as government schools in Delhi have been instructed by the National Green Tribunal to install rain water harvesting systems (RWHS) in their premises within a period of ten days.

According to a bench headed by Justice Rahim, as the season of monsoon is likely to start soon, schools need to take proper steps for installation of RWHS.

“We direct noticees (schools) to complete installation work within a period of 10 days and file report of completion in the registry after serving copy to the applicant, failing to which each one of the noticees will be saddled with a cost of Rs 20,000 in the first instance subject to further order for increasing the cost,” the bench said.

Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) are also directed by the green panel to keep a check on the premises of schools that have already installed rain water harvesting systems and also to submit a report on them.

The matter is listed for next hearing on June 14.

The CGWA and DJB were earlier also directed by NGT to inspect private and government schools in Delhi when there was a plea alleging that they had failed to set up rain water harvesting systems in their premises.

During the hearing of a plea of Mahesh Chandra Saxena, the direction came. Mahesh claimed to be related with an NGO working in the field of ground water conservation.

He has claimed that government departments, educational institutions and residential societies have either not installed rain water harvesting systems or these were non-functional.