The builders themselves are illegally exploiting groundwater. This has come to light in the report of the Joint Investigation Committee. It has been told in this report that 41 out of 63 builders of Greater Noida are using groundwater. However, the builders have raised questions on this report. Also, it has been claimed that groundwater is not being used. In such a situation, NGT has directed the Greater Noida Authority and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to investigate the facts.
Earlier in the year 2023, a case of exploitation of groundwater in 33 group housing societies (33 Group Housing Societies) came to light. In this, the committee imposed a fine of Rs 306 crore on the concerned builders. The hearing of the latest case in NGT took place on 4 February. In this hearing, about a dozen builders did not file their reply even after the notice. In such a situation, NGT has given them an additional week. According to the information received, recently there was news of exploitation of groundwater by the builders of Greater Noida West.
41 builders accused of using groundwater
After this, NGT had formed a Joint Inquiry Committee. Now the committee has given its report in NGT and claimed that 41 out of 63 builders have been found exploiting groundwater. But some of these builders have filed a reply in NGT saying that they do not do so.. Rather they supply water to their societies through Greater Noida Authority, Noida Authority or private suppliers. Environmentalist Pradeep Dahliya, who lives in Greater Noida, filed a related petition in NGT in the year 2022.
The next hearing will be on 28 April
It was said in the petition that the builders have been exploiting groundwater indiscriminately for a long time. In his petition, he demanded an investigation into the actual source of water used by these builders. On his petition, NGT had investigated all the builder projects. After this, in June 2024, District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma called a meeting of the joint committee. Officials of the Ground Water Department, Greater Noida Authority and UPPCB participated in it. In this meeting, the possible fineforn all the developers was assessed. Now the next hearing of this case will be on 28 April.