A group of developers in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, has been fined for illegally extracting groundwater without permission for their construction projects, in violation of the Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Act, 2019. The violation came to light after a resident filed a petition expressing concerns about groundwater depletion. A survey conducted by the authorities confirmed the unauthorized extraction by 13 developers, leading to fines of Rs. 5 lakhs each and the sealing of borewells. Groundwater levels in Noida and Greater Noida have significantly dropped over the past decade.
A group of developers in Noida has been fined for violating the Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Act, 2019 by extracting groundwater without permission for their construction projects. This came to light after a petition was filed by a resident named Prasoon Pant, expressing concerns about the depletion of groundwater resources. In response, the District Magistrate, Manish Kumar Verma, ordered a survey conducted by the Noida authorities, Pollution Board, and Groundwater Department.
The survey revealed that 13 developers in Noida and Greater Noida had illegally extracted groundwater, despite being allowed to use water from sewage treatment plants by the National Green Tribunal. As a result, each developer was fined Rs. 5 lakhs, and all the unauthorized borewells were sealed.
The unauthorized extraction of groundwater by these developers has significantly contributed to the depletion of groundwater levels in the district over the past decade. Noida and Greater Noida, in particular, have experienced a significant drop in the average groundwater level from 7.94m in 2012 to 16.56m in 2012. The National Green Tribunal has mandated that developers who dug borewells for their projects will be penalized with a fine of 0.5 percent of the total project cost.
Notices have been issued to developers who violated the regulations, and their borewells have been sealed. Additionally, developers are now required to pay the penalty and strictly utilize water from sewage treatment plants for their construction activities. Even those developers who had obtained permission for groundwater extraction must pay the penalty of 0.5 percent of the project fund.
This enforcement action aims to curb the illegal extraction of groundwater and protect the depleting water resources in Noida. The penalties imposed on the developers serve as a deterrent, ensuring compliance with regulations and encouraging the sustainable use of water for construction purposes.
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