Construction projects will have to produce an assurance from Delhi Jal Board(DJB) on water supply for getting an environment clearance.
To ensure that new construction sites do not extract groundwater, the state level expert appraisal committee (SEAC) is preparing a standard format of DJB’s assurance and project proponents will have to provide it for environment clearance.
This format will have details on how much treated, fresh and groundwater, if any, will be used during and after the project is ready and how much water will be supplied by DJB. The sites are required to use treated water during construction and need freshwater assurance from DJB to be supplied after the project becomes operational.
Vijay Garg, chairperson, SEAC, said, “Rules on water usage for construction activities are already in place, but we are preparing a standard format for project proponents when they seek environment clearance. It will help us in data collection.”
He added, “It is mandatory for the sites, which are spread over 20,000 square metre, to use treated water during construction. However, such sites would need fresh water after the project is ready. They have to share details before getting an environment clearance on how much fresh water will be supplied by DJB”.
During its July 4 meeting, Delhi State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) was informed that the SEAC is in the process of finalizing the standard format for water assurance from DJB. SEAC, at a June 26 meeting, asked a member to prepare the format.
SEIAA deferred environment clearance for construction of the proposed hospital on land measuring 1.4 hectare in Saket as it did not have water assurance from DJB.
“SEIAA deliberated the issue of firm water assurance from DJB/competent authority…In absence of firm assurances, there is the possibility of illegal extraction of groundwater whenever the project becomes ready for operation,” according to SEIAA’s minutes of meetings.
