Identify land for STP in Najafgarh area: NGT to Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 1 : The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday directed the Delhi government to identify the land to install sewage treatment plant (STPs) in Najafgarh area here.

The STP at Dichaon Kalan village - one of the 14 to come up across Delhi - will treat the sewage coming from the highly polluting Najafgarh drain. 

Earlier on Thursday, the Delhi government informed the Tribunal that the land they had spotted to install the STP in the area could not be acquired as it belonged to Valmiki Samaj, after which the bench headed by NGT chief Justice Swatanter Kumar summoned the members of the community.

On Friday, the representatives of Valmiki Samaj informed the green court that the land marked by Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for installing the STP was a cremation ground and the the NGT thus ordered the DJB and the Delhi government to identify a site for setting up the STP.

"A joint inspection team consisting of officials from DJB, Land and Building and Land Revenue Department of Delhi government and representative of Valmiki Society accompany shall inspect the site accompanied by the DJB chief engineer and report to the tribunal," the bench ordered.

It also added that the team shall provide written status report duly signed by all the departments. 

The DJB informed the tribunal that of total 14 STP to be constructed, seven are to be built by the DJB with its own funds.

It also told the NGT that out of the total fund of Rs 1,755 crore allocated to the Board, Rs 939 crore was for water and Rs 816 crore for sewage treatment. 

The matter is now listed for hearing on December 5.