The Times of India 26.04.2013
HC tells Puda to put water meters on borewells
CHANDIGARH: Punjab and Haryana high court, on Thursday, directed Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) to install electric water meters on borewells to ascertain that underground water is used only for drinking purposes and not for construction work.
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.
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.
