Noting that the extraction of groundwater in Delhi is a very serious issue, the National Green Tribunal has ordered sealing of illegal borewells operated by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in the national capital.

A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore was informed by the counsel for Delhi that permission has been granted to the DMRC, in the entire city, for 164 borewells only and consent for more borewells is required for which the matter was under process.

The tribunal made it clear that the DMRC should be allowed to operate only those borewells which have been permitted in accordance to law.

"Having heard the counsel for the parties and taking into consideration that extraction of ground water in NCT Delhi is a very serious issue, strict compliance of law is required. Therefore, only those borewells which have been permitted in accordance to law, shall be allowed to be operated.

"Therefore, we direct that borewells to which permission have been granted by NCT Delhi may only be allowed to operate. All other borewells shall be sealed forthwith," the bench said.

The green panel granted liberty to the DMRC that as and when they obtain due permission for other borewells, they may approach it and seek fresh order.

The order came on a plea filed by Kush Kalra who had alleged that the DMRC was extracting groundwater instead of using waste water to wash its trains, resulting in depletion of the water table.

The plea, filed through advocate Kush Sharma, alleged that the DMRC has installed illegal borewells right under the nose of authorities, but no action has been taken till date.

It contended that if any individual installs a borewell without permission in his house, authorities seal it in no time and slap a fine, but the DMRC has installed 276 borewells and no action has been taken till now.

Referring to an RTI reply, the plea had said the DMRC's water requirement was met through borewells and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) connections.

It also said that in order to draw water from the borewells, three to five HP pumps were used.

"Groundwater after treatment as per requirement is used for train washing Borewells have been provided in the depots from where water is sourced.

"Around 400 to 500 litres of groundwater is used for washing one metro train. The water, after washing of metro train, is sent to Effluent Treatment Plant. The treated water is then used for gardening and the excess sent to drains," the RTI reply read.
Another RTI response received from the DJB said no permission had been granted to the DMRC for digging borewells.

In another such response, a list of metro stations that had been granted such permission was provided by the board to the DMRC, the plea said, while referring to the contradiction between the responses.