The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken serious note of the unchecked illegal extraction of groundwater in Delhi’s Mayur Vihar area, directing the Chief Secretary of Delhi to ensure concrete action is taken to curb the unlawful use of borewells.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, along with Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, passed the order on May 5 while hearing a petition regarding unauthorised borewells operating along the Yamuna riverbed near the Noida link road in Mayur Vihar.
The tribunal noted that despite repeated directions, there has been no effective action by the authorities, including the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), or the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). While the DJB claimed it was the responsibility of the district magistrate to take enforcement action, the CPCB said it was still awaiting information from local bodies. The CGWA did not submit any response or appear before the tribunal.
“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 groundwater in the area concerned,” the bench observed.
Taking a stern view, the NGT directed the Delhi Chief Secretary to personally oversee the issue and ensure that illegal groundwater extraction is prevented. The tribunal also issued notice to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and sought the virtual presence of the vice-chairman of the CGWA in the next hearing.
During the proceedings, the tribunal also recorded the reply from the district magistrate of East Delhi, who stated that two illegal borewells had been sealed near a nursery on DDA land in the Yamuna Khadar area. However, the owners of these borewells could not be identified.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 10, 2025.
