NGT takes dim view of agencies not desilting key Delhi drain

The National Green Tribunal has expressed disappointment over agencies not taking responsibility to desilt and dredge the Barapullah drain, stating a key segment of the drain was yet to be dredged even as it directed the Delhi chief secretary to convene a meeting of all agencies, fix responsibility and take action, according to documents seen by HT. NGT has been hearing various pleas, including one by the Nizamuddin West RWA, seeking remedial measures to treat the Barapullah and its subsidiary drains, including the Kushak drain. Noting that agencies were still “playing a blame game”, NGT, in its order dated August 2 uploaded on Sunday, said that while an early segment of the drain was being dredged by the irrigation and flood control department, a portion of the drain, closer to the Yamuna was yet to be desilted by any agency and is likely causing waterlogging. “It has been pointed out by learned senior counsel appearing for the applicant that so far desilting/dredging of stretch A-1 to A-7 of Barapullah drain is concerned, the work has been taken up by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, but from A-7 to B, which is the last stretch, no work has been done and it is a crucial stretch because unless A-7 to B is dredged, the backflow will take place and desilting/dredging of upper stretches of the drain will not serve any effective purpose,” NGT said in its order. Shahdara drains not meeting BOD standards, NGT told Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board reported to NGT that the Sahibabad, Indirapuri, and Banthla drains — all supplementary drains of the Shahdara drain in Delhi — were not meeting requisite standards for Biological Oxygen Demand.