Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has issued a closure notice to Bisleri's packaged drinking water manufacturing unit in Najafgarh Road Industrial Area for drawing 3.31 lakh litres of groundwater everyday without permission from Delhi Jal Board.
"The unit has three bore wells in the premises but they could not show us the permission letter required for the extraction of ground water. No water meter has been installed to measure the reject water of RO (Reverse Osmosis) plants," the notice by DPCC stated.
The unit draws about 3.31 lakh litres of ground water every day which is sufficient to meet the daily requirements of 2,500 people.
"We had sent a show cause notice to the unit in the past mentioning the deficiencies in its functioning, but they did not take the requisire permission from the authority concerned. Two bore wells were closed due to our intervention but we got to know that a third one was still operating," a DPCC official said.
The official underlined the importance of punishing the bigger players in the market who make commercial use of the natural resources rather than targeting the poor people.
"Those who use natural resources for commercial purposes should have all the required permissions to do so. Unfortunately, poor people are always at the receiving end but the bigger players go scot-free; that is why, we are working for stricter action and enforcement," the official added.
The pollution watchdog also ordered the electricity and water bodies to stop their services to the unit.
"The operation of the unit should be closed with immediate effect. Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd and the Delhi Jal Board should stop the electricity and water supply respectively to the unit with immediate effect. The Deputy Commissioner and SDM shall take necessary action to ensure effective closure of the unit," the notice said.
DPCC stated that the Bisleri unit had applied for 'consent to establish' and 'consent to operate' but both the applications were rejected.
