Much to the relief of residents of high-rises in Ghaziabad, the National Green Tribunal has decided to stay its previous order to seal bore wells and stop ground water extraction in residential societies in the city. According to sources, taking into consideration the pleas of the residents, the tribunal stayed its previous order till its next hearing on July 13.
Speaking to City Spidey, Sanjeev Singh, the counsel who represented residents, said that the court has stayed the order till July 13 but it stuck to May 31 as the last date for residential societies to file their application in front of the District Magistrate.
Sharat Jha, president of Consortium of Societies Ghaziabad that initially took up the issue with the NGT, said that the order has brought much relief to the people's problem and has come in the face of much confusion among AOAs of the city.
Accoring to sources, the tribunal has also ordered the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) to present a detailed report about the status of the ground water during the next hearing of the case on July 13.
Speaking to City Spidey, Sushil Raghav, a Ghaziabad water activist, said that the orders were passed for both industries and residential areas. "Although several orders were passed by the NGT, none were complied with. Not a single bore well in factories has been sealed till date. The orders have been cut off midway, but at least there has not been any relaxation for commercial extraction of groundwater," added Raghav.
