New Delhi:The National Green Tribunal Tuesday issued notice to the Centre and the CPCB on a plea seeking quashing of a notification on groundwater extraction on the grounds that its commercial use was adversely affecting the flow of rivers and availability of drinking water in the country.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) was repeatedly issuing notification liberalising groundwater extraction in water scarcity areas in spite of the need for stringent action, contrary to the very purpose for which it was setup.
There was no effective mechanism to check violation by the recovery of adequate compensation which was laid down by this tribunal based on expert studies, it said.
We find that the impugned order is statutorily appealable under Section 16 (g) of the NGT Act, 2010.
Thus, instead of an application, the proper remedy of the appellant is an appeal. We direct conversion of the application to Appeal.
The Registry may accordingly register the matter as Appeal. We are of the view that there are arguable points which are raised in the appeal which will require reconsideration. The appeal is admitted. Issue notice to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the bench said.
The tribunal also issued notice to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and said water is a scarce resource on which life is dependent and its extraction has to be duly regulated.
In areas where there is water scarcity, extraction can be allowed on stringent conditions of ensuring recharge, it said.