Green panel orders BMC to cut 2 lakh lt water supply to railways

BHOPAL: National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday ordered Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) to reduce water supply to railways by 2 lakh litres, which shall be supplied to houses in Bhopal with immediate effect.

“BMC commissioner must initiate steps for utilisation of 2 lakh litres out of 11,33,000 litres of water to Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited
(IRSDC) from now onwards. The railways shall not be given more time to spare aforesaid 2 lakh litres,” the bench said. The tribunal was hearing a petition from Shailendra Kumar Modi against the discharge of waste water by Shahkari Dugdha Sangh and others in violation of environmental norms.
The railways (IRSDC), to lay pipeline and take all necessary measures, had earlier sought the period of 6 months, the deadline for which had ended on October 4 this year. Failing to comply with the NGT orders, railways officials were asked to given an affidavit, including a timeline as per orders to the NGT. On Wednesday, the officials submitted in written the schedule for implementation of laying of the pipeline at Habibganj yard. After filing affidavit, the respondents were given an extension of three months, the deadline for which ends on December 31 and thereafter, a penalty of Rs 10,000 per day will be slapped by the green tribunal.
“The progress as per the timeline given by the tribunal should also be submitted before this tribunal from time to time. The 2 lakh litre of water can otherwise be utilised for the benefit of local residents of Bhopal from now onwards,” the bench headed by judicial member Justice Dalip Singh said.