New Delhi: with the monsoon Likely to happen soon, the Delhi High Court has begun a review of efforts to conserve rainwater in the city.
Get to know suo motu on the basis of a YOU report, a bench of Justices Jasmeet Singh and Dinesh Kumar Sharma sought details from various civic authorities, the Center and the Delhi government on the efforts being made for rainwater harvesting in the city. “We found this article from Times of India from 18.06.2022 which talks about the lack of rainwater harvesting efforts in Delhi. The article seems to suggest that monsoon rainwater is not properly collected in the city of Delhi,” the bench said when opening a PIL on the matter.
The bench also pointed out that inadequate rainwater management has a direct link to traffic jams, as water often floods major roads, making navigation difficult. “We also take note that due to monsoon season and others, there are huge traffic issues in Delhi which we believe can easily be controlled and regulated instantly through management rainwater as well as with the help of Google Maps. We are aware of it suo motu since it is a matter of public importance,” the court noted.
It issued a notice to all stakeholders involved in rainwater harvesting including Government of Delhi, Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Road Transport Central, Delhi Development Authority, Municipality of Delhi, Public Works Department, Flood and Irrigation Department, Delhi Jal Board, NDMC, Delhi Cantonment Board and Delhi Police.
It gave all agencies a week to file a status report indicating the measures taken by them to store and harvest rainwater. The bench also asked for details of the measures taken “to resolve and alleviate traffic jams/grunts in Delhi during monsoons and other periods”.
The court then posted the case for a rehearing on July 4 before the Chief Justice for review. The TOI report had highlighted the lack of initiative and enforcement by agencies to ensure that each housing company and residents store rainwater by installing collection units.
Get to know suo motu on the basis of a YOU report, a bench of Justices Jasmeet Singh and Dinesh Kumar Sharma sought details from various civic authorities, the Center and the Delhi government on the efforts being made for rainwater harvesting in the city. “We found this article from Times of India from 18.06.2022 which talks about the lack of rainwater harvesting efforts in Delhi. The article seems to suggest that monsoon rainwater is not properly collected in the city of Delhi,” the bench said when opening a PIL on the matter.
The bench also pointed out that inadequate rainwater management has a direct link to traffic jams, as water often floods major roads, making navigation difficult. “We also take note that due to monsoon season and others, there are huge traffic issues in Delhi which we believe can easily be controlled and regulated instantly through management rainwater as well as with the help of Google Maps. We are aware of it suo motu since it is a matter of public importance,” the court noted.
It issued a notice to all stakeholders involved in rainwater harvesting including Government of Delhi, Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Road Transport Central, Delhi Development Authority, Municipality of Delhi, Public Works Department, Flood and Irrigation Department, Delhi Jal Board, NDMC, Delhi Cantonment Board and Delhi Police.
It gave all agencies a week to file a status report indicating the measures taken by them to store and harvest rainwater. The bench also asked for details of the measures taken “to resolve and alleviate traffic jams/grunts in Delhi during monsoons and other periods”.
The court then posted the case for a rehearing on July 4 before the Chief Justice for review. The TOI report had highlighted the lack of initiative and enforcement by agencies to ensure that each housing company and residents store rainwater by installing collection units.