Delhi residents to pay environment compensation for polluting Yamuna

By NewsGram Staff Writer

The National Green Tribunal yesterday said that every Delhi resident is responsible for polluting the river Yamuna and therefore every household will have to pay a certain amount of money each month as environment compensation. This amount can either be added to the property tax or utility bills.

"The monthly compensation payable by all the households in Delhi would be directly proportional to the property tax or water bill, whichever is higher, payable by such households. Where the household or person is not paying water bills and property tax and are located in unauthorized colonies, in that event, such household shall pay the sum of Rs 100 or Rs 500 per month as the case may be. This amount would be determined by the authority concerned with reference to the construction, existing on the plot," the NGT's order stated.

"We direct DJB and all municipal corporations, Cantonment Board, electricity companies like BSES and all other civic authorities to take environmental compensation from every household, which is generating sewage in Delhi on the polluters pay principle. It will be irrespective of whether a household is sewered or not," the order said.

This compensation will help the Delhi Jal board's ambitious plan of establishing and repairing 15 sewage treatment plants (STPs).

The Delhi Jal Board has to also submit a complete action plan and time-frame for completion of the first phase of the project "Maily Se Nirmal Yamuna" Revitalisation Plan, 2017 within one week's time. Work on the Najafgarh drain will be taken up in the first phase, the tribunal ordered.

Earlier, the tribunal had ordered a fine of Rs 5,000 on anyone throwing material, including religious items, into Yamuna.