Weeks after the National Green Tribunal directed that stormwater drains not be covered, the Delhi High Court on Thursday approved a government policy that states that “medium and small drains” with a capacity of less than 1,000 cusecs can be covered after “ascertaining feasibility”. Delhi government counsel Rajiv Nanda submitted the policy document before the court of Justice Manmohan, who directed that the policy be followed by all agencies concerned, tribunals and courts. According to the government, stormwater drains will now be classified into large, medium and small drains, as well as larger category of “natural’ and “artificial” drains. While the large drains of over 1,000 cusecs will “not be ordinarily” covered, except under “exceptional situations”, a committee of senior officers from civic agencies can take a decision on whether to cover medium drains . The small drains, with a capacity of less than four feet, may be covered by the drain owning agency after making arrangements for desilting and cleansing.
