Rainwater harvesting: SC stays NGT fine order

Rainwater harvesting: SC stays NGT fine order

1. The Supreme Court has stayed a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order imposing a penalty of Rs 5 lakh each on educational institutions in Delhi for failing to install rainwater harvesting systems. The Supreme Court’s order came in the backdrop of a plea filed by the Delhi government and others which had challenged NGT’s order.
2. In November 2017, the NGT had said that any institution which fails to install rainwater harvesting system within two months would be liable to pay environment compensation of Rs 5 lakh.
3. The NGT had also constituted a committee comprising representatives from the Central Ground Water Authority, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and other departments.
4. NGT had directed schools and colleges to approach the committee for inspecting the premises and granting permission to institutions for operating the rainwater harvesting system. The committee was entrusted with providing exemption certificates in case it was absolutely not feasible to install such systems.
5. Established in 2010, the NGT is responsible for the disposal of cases related to environmental protection, conservation of forests and other natural resources.