The Times of India 26.04.2013
HC tells Puda to put water meters on borewells
The directions were issued in view of various notifications issued by
the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) Faridabad placing restrictions
on use of underground water for construction work in 35 Blocks in
Punjab. The matter reached the high court through a public interest
litigation (PIL) filed by advocate H C Arora.
When the matter
came up for hearing on Thursday before a division bench comprising
Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice R K Jain of the HC, PUDA
filed an affidavit stating that it had issued the directive to all its
subordinate offices on April 8. According to PUDA directives, a
condition should be incorporated in the allotment letter/plan of the
allotees of all types of plots in the development areas falling under
“notified areas” that the allotees shall not use underground water for
construction purpose. They shall use alternatives such as surface water
sources or treated sewage water.
Similar condition shall be
incorporated in the Letter of Intent (LOI) of various approved mega
projects and colonies falling under “notified areas”. It was further
informed that the Chief Administrator (CA) of the respective regional
development authority shall authorize Executive Officer (EO) of the
authority to ensure enforcement and implementation of the notifications
issued by CGWA
in the notified areas. Sub-divisional engineer (building) under
concerned EO shall submit monthly report on enforcement of these
notifications in the notified areas under their jurisdiction. Placing on
record the affidavit, the high court directed PUDA to ensure
installation of water meters, for measuring underground water drawn by
the builders.
The petitioner had sought enforcement of various
notifications issued by the CGWA declaring a number of Blocks of Punjab
as “notified areas”, and banning construction of buildings by use of
underground water, and also for seeking appropriate directions to Punjab
to permit construction only by utilizing treated water from sewerage
plants. The case has been fixed for further hearing for May 16.
