The National Green Tribunal today directed Delhi Gymkhana Club to pay Rs 10 lakhs to North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) for operating five borewells in its premises and "illegal" extracting of groundwater.
The Tribunal had, on August 22, asked the Club to pay a penalty of Rs 5 lakh for extracting ground water without permission from the Ground Water Authority or Delhi Jal Board.
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, disposing the plea, directed Gymkhana Club to pay the amount within two weeks from today.
"The applicant shall pay an additional sum of Rs 10 lakhs within two weeks from today. This would be in addition to the Rs 5 lakhs that has already been deposited by the applicant with NDMC for operating five borewells stated to be located in the premises of the applicant," the bench said.
The bench directed the Club to submit the application for obtaining permission to operate the borewells within two weeks and also ordered fixation of meters with each borewell.
"A report shall be prepared stating the water consumption and the waste water generated. On the water consumption, the applicant shall pay the cess in accordance with law and would also pay such other charges as directed by the competent authority," the bench added.
It also directed DPCC to inspect the premises and prepare a report if the rain water harvesting system has been installed and is operational or not.
The Tribunal's order came on a plea filed by Delhi Gymkhana Club, one of the oldest clubs in India, against the DPCC closure order for using borewells without permission.
