NEW DELHI: Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in inspections done in August and September found out that there were 246 hotels in the Karol Bagh-Paharganj area allegedly extracting groundwater illegally.
As per the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the department of environment, the board is likely to shut down all the borewells to stop illegal extraction of groundwater.
Varun Gulati, a water activist, had filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in April this year, saying that several hotels had illegal borewells installed in hotels and guest houses and the agencies need to take action in the matter.
Based on the directions of the tribunal, a joint inspection was done by Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)and found the violations.
The hotel owners say that due to shortage of water, they turn to drilling borewells. In 2020, the Delhi government prepared a standard operating procedure for prohibition of illegal activities related to use of borewells to extract water.
"Drawing ground water through a borewell or tubewell for domestic, commercial, agricultural or industrial use without the prior permission of the 'competent authority' will be considered illegal and without authority of law," the SOP said. Hotel owners cannot run borewells illegally. On the other hand, Delhi Jal Board should provide water supply as required and also the DM should consider giving permission for borewells as per norms if the water table is satisfactory in the areas.
"The hotel and guesthouse owners have been served notices by DJB. There is a need for clarity on the policy regarding borewells" a hotel owner in Paharganj said on the condition of anonymity.
In case an illegal borewell is in operation, it will be closed and electricity supply to the well will be disconnected even if it is through DG sets. In case an illegal borewell is under construction, the drilling rig will be sealed, government rules say.
In order to increase water production, the Delhi government is working on installing 500 tubewells. Many such tubewells will be around sewage treatment plants and artificial lakes where the treated water will be cleaned and supplied further into the network.