The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday summoned senior officials of the Education Department after the Delhi government failed to provide details on the number of institutions where rainwater harvesting systems have been installed.
A Bench headed by NGT judicial member Justice Raghuvendra S. Rathore said, “What action have you taken to instal rainwater harvesting systems? The tribunal passed the order in November 2017 and asked you to complete the exercise in two months. Show us what action you have taken?”
During the hearing, the counsel appearing for the Delhi government informed the tribunal that out of 1,600 private schools, 901 have installed while out of 742 government schools, 528 have installed the rainwater harvesting systems.
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However, the government was unable to provide data on the number of aided and unaided schools in the capital. In response to the submission that tenders have been issued, the Bench said, “You are trying to tell us like a child about the process. Parrot-like reply is coming from the officers. What tender are you talking about? This is a mere excuse.”
Meanwhile, the Delhi University informed the Bench that out of 65 colleges, six are in the process of installing the rainwater harvesting systems.
Further, the Bench said, “We direct senior officer of the NCT government concerned with primary, middle and secondary school and higher education to be present before us on the next date of hearing. He shall bring complete details about the case and also list of institutions where rainwater harvesting is not functioning.”
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The directions came while the green panel was hearing a plea filed by city resident Mahesh Chandra Saxena, who sought implementation of the November 2017 NGT order, which had directed institutions to install rainwater harvesting systems.