HC raps Punjab for not taking steps to save underground water

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday pulled up the Punjab government for not taking steps to save underground water,which is being misused for construction purposes. Asking the government to wake up from its deep slumber,a division bench headed by acting Chief Justice told Punjab to “save water,else a day will come when there will be no drinking water left”.

While hearing a a PIL filed by advocate H C Arora,the court also directed the government to ensure strict implementation — within seven days — of various notifications issued the by Central Ground Water Authority,prohibiting extraction of underground water for construction work in 46 blocks in Punjab. This,after the court was unimpressed by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development’s (PUDA) affidavit that stated steps taken to save underground water.

Through its order on April 25,the high court had directed PUDA and the government to stop the use of underground water by builders for construction work. It had directed PUDA to conduct physical verification to ensure that underground water is not drawn through borewells. It had also directed PUDA to ensure that water metres are installed on borewells to ensure that the quantity extracted is used only for drinking purpose.

It went on to direct the Punjab chief secretary to ensure that within seven days,all directions issued by the court on April 25 and various notifications issued by Central Ground Water Authority,are strictly complied with.