The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took Suo Motu cognizance of the matter relating to the problem of overflowing sewer lines for the past two years in the Sushant Lok 1 colony of Gurugram.
The petition is registered suo-motu on the basis of the news item dated 29.07.2024.
The article alleges that the sewer lines were not desilted, causing wastewater to back up and overflow onto streets across the colony. As per the article, the stench of sewage on roads is nauseating and stagnant water is becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The news item states that the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon allotted Rs 30.7 lakh for desilting of sewer lines with the help of a bucket machine yet no work has been done on the ground.
The article claims that the RWA has repeatedly complained about the problem but no action has been taken by MCG. Moreover, residents suspect that the sewage is mixing with the drinking water and contaminating it, even the devotees are being forced to navigate through dirty water to get to the colony temple.
The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms, especially compliance of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
“Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu exercise of power has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.”
Hence, Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Dr A. Senthil Vel impleaded the following as respondents in the matter:
(1). The Central Pollution Control Board, through its member secretary.
(2). Haryana Pollution Control Board, through its member secretary.
(3). District Magistrate, Gurugram.
(4). Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
(5). Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon.
The Bench issued notice to the Respondents and listed the matter on 12.11.2024.