The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Delhi chief secretary to take immediate action against illegal groundwater extraction in the Mayur Vihar area, raising concerns over the lack of seriousness by civic bodies in tackling unauthorised borewells operating near the Yamuna riverbed.
In an order issued on May 5, a bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, along with Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A. Senthil Vel, noted conflicting responses from various agencies and said the lack of coordination indicates indifference toward a serious environmental violation. The tribunal was hearing a case related to alleged illegal borewells along the Noida Link Road in Mayur Vihar and the operation of tankers siphoning groundwater from the Yamuna floodplains. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) maintained that the responsibility for enforcement lay with the district magistrate. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), meanwhile, reported that it was still awaiting necessary information from local authorities. The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) failed to respond entirely, prompting the NGT to order the virtual appearance of its vice chairman at the next hearing. “The stand taken by the different authorities clearly reveals that none of them are serious in taking action against those who are involved in the illegal extraction of the groundwater in the area concerned,” the bench observed, expressing strong dissatisfaction with the inertia among agencies.
The tribunal stressed that the Delhi chief secretary must now take a lead role to ensure illegal groundwater extraction is curbed and regulatory measures are implemented with accountability. A reply submitted by the district magistrate of East Delhi during the proceedings confirmed the presence of two illegal borewells near a nursery located on Delhi Development Authority (DDA) land in Yamuna Khadar. Although these borewells were sealed, the authorities claimed that they were unable to identify the owners responsible. The NGT also issued a notice to the DDA and has scheduled the next hearing for September 10, giving the authorities time to submit comprehensive updates on enforcement actions and compliance.
Illegal groundwater extraction poses a growing threat to Delhi’s fragile water ecosystem, particularly along the Yamuna floodplains, where rampant unregulated use depletes aquifers and impacts surface water flow. With the capital already grappling with water shortages and heatwave conditions, the tribunal’s direction underscores the urgency for stricter vigilance and cross-agency coordination.
