Every single Delhi household must pay environment compensation, says NGT

Green Energy Koyal Group Inc - The National Green Tribunal recently announced that every household in the city of New Delhi will have to pay a minimum environment compensation of Rupee (Rs) 100 every month for producing sewage, regardless of whether or not they have a sewerage connection.

The funds collected from this compensation will be used to provide new sewage treatment plants (STPs) and other requirements as part of the NGT's "Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017".

The compensation will be directly proportional to the property or water tax, whichever is higher, paid by a particular household.

For those who reside in unauthorized colonies which do not pay property tax or water bill, the amount would be Rs 100 to Rs 500.

Municipal corporation employees will have to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 for throwing or dumping waste into the drains of New Delhi. These corporations will have to clean all the drains and they must also ensure that no illegal, unauthorized washing, running of dairies is allowed on the banks of the drains. All of this has to be finished within a month's time.

"We direct Delhi government, Delhi Jal Board and all municipal corporations, Cantonment Board, electricity companies like BSES and other civic authorities to impose environmental compensation on every household which is generating sewage in the entire NCT of Delhi on the 'Polluters Pay Principle'."

The payment of environmental compensation will be added to the electricity bill, water bill and the property tax demand in order of preference by the respective departments which will transfer the money to NCT, Delhi.

The court also directed Delhi Jal Board to submit the complete action plan and time frame for completion of first phase of Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017 in one week.

"We will not grant any further extension and the erring officer would be personally liable for default," the bench said while directing it complete this project as quickly as possible and whatever the case not later than 2016.

The tribunal said: "Of the entire pollution of Yamuna, 76 per cent is generated in NCT Delhi. Industrial effluents and untreated sewage are carried into the Yamuna and with passage of time; it has been converted into a stinking drain."