Government officials representing Noida and Gurgaon could be fined Rs10,000 if they fail yet again to respond to a complaint that Metro stations were built without the mandated rainwater storage systems,the National Green Tribunal ordered Friday.
Officials of UP and Haryana had for the third time asked for more time to reply to the applicants claim,provoking Justice Umesh Dattatraya Salvi,sitting as head of the bench,to warn them. The states have been given another two weeks to respond.
Time was granted twice already. We will begin (the fine) with Rs 10,000, Salvi said.
Vikrant Tongrad,an environmental activist,had filed the case based on Central and state government laws requiring government buildings to have rainwater harvesting systems. Tongrad claimed that if harvesting at Metro stations were to include surface area on elevated railways for collection,it could save the NCR 6.37 crore litres of water every year.
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The Delhi Metro said 42 of the 105 stations built in Phase-II,including several in Gurgaon and Noida,did not have harvesting systems for various reasons such as proximity to the Yamuna riverbed,where rainwater naturally replenishes itself. Some stations were in areas that were too congested to built such a system. The next hearing is on September 26.
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