Every household in Delhi has to pay environment compensation: NGT

New Delhi: Every household in the city will now have have to pay a minimum environment compensation of Rs 100 for generating sewage, National Green Tribunal on Friday said. The bench, however, clarified that the compensation in this regard would be directly proportional to the property tax or water bill whichever is higher and for those who reside in unauthorised colonies or not paying water bills, the amount would be in the range of Rs 100 to Rs 500. [caption id=“attachment_2235160” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Reuters[/caption] “We direct Delhi govt, Delhi Jal Board and all Municipal Corporations, Cantonment Board, electricity companies like BSES and all other civic authorities to require payment of environmental compensation from every household which is generating sewage in the entire NCT of Delhi on the Polluters Pay Principle. “The monthly compensation payable by all households in the Delhi would be directly proportionate to the property tax or water bill which ever is higher…this amount would be determined by the concerned authority with reference to the construction existing on the plot,” a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said adding that the amount received shall be deposited with Delhi government. The Tribunal held that this amount would be charged irrespective of whether a household is sewered or not and would be equally applicable to the household located in the unauthorized colonies. The bench made it clear that payment of “environmental compensation” shall be added to electricity bills, water bill and the property tax demand in order of preference by the respective departments which will transfer the money to Delhi government. It directed Delhi Jal Board to submit the complete action plan and timeframe for completion of first phase of the project “Maily Se Nirmal Yamuna” Revitalization Plan, 2017 within one week from today. “We permit DJB to finalise its action plan within the stipulated period and invite the tenders within 45 days as prayed, from today. “We make it clear that we will not grant any further extension and the erring officer would be personally liable for default,” the bench said while directing it complete this project as expeditiously as possible and “in any case not later than 2016”. Expressing concern over the sewage system in the national capital, the Tribunal said “there is total commonality of the object between all the stakeholders to ensure that sewage system in NCT, Delhi, and river Yamuna both should be restored to their pristine and glory”. “The entire pollution of river Yamuna, 76 per cent pollution is generated in NCT, Delhi, which results from discharge of industrial effluent and untreated sewage. There are a number of drains which carry these effluents to Yamuna and with the passage of time have converted it into stinking drain of effluents and sewage,” it said. The observations came while monitoring the implementation of its “Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017”. PTI