Treated sewage being supplied to Appu Ghar, state tells NGT

New Delhi, September 15

The state government has told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that treated sewage is being supplied to Appu Ghar in Gurugram and groundwater is not being used in the amusement park.

The government told a Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel that the supply of potable water would be meant for drinking purposes and recycled water would be supplied for non-drinking purposes such as gardening, flushing etc.

“It is further stated that the state had taken steps to develop ponds and strengthen water supply and wastewater treatment infrastructure. Treated sewage water may be provided from the existing line in Sector 29 to International Recreation and Amusement Ltd (IRAL), Sector 29, Gurugram, and the canal water supply connection from the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) line may be disconnected,” the state government told the Bench.

The water park operators might explore the possibility of using treated wastewater after having all water quality parameters within the prescribed standards limit, it said.

The state government said treated water was to be used for plants, lawns, etc, while ultra tertiary treated plants might need further treatment for use in amusement parks.

On the issue whether free water supply was congenial for the environment, the Haryana Government stated that such a policy would be against the policy of water conservation and would result in the misuse of precious natural resources.

“Haryana is not permitting any free water supply and user charges are levied by the Public Health Engineering Department, Urban Local Bodies and the HSVP. In dark zones, the source of water supply is being converted from tubewell to canal-based supply. A policy is being finalised on the reuse of treated water, which provides for use of treated wastewater for non-potable purposes,” it said.

The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by RTI activist Harinder Dhingra, seeking direction to restrain Appu Ghar from using groundwater without necessary permission and constitute an expert committee to investigate the illegal extraction of groundwater, resulting in depletion of the city’s water table.

The plea, filed through advocate Ayush Arora, had alleged that the amusement park was withdrawing groundwater despite the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) notifying Gurugram district as an “over-exploited” area, where groundwater extraction was more than the average annual replenishment.

Referring to an RTI query, the plea had said that the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), in June 2016, said the amusement park had been sanctioned two water connections, one of size 50mm and the other of 25mm, while its requirement was much more.

“The applicant seeks interim relief for the constitution of a committee of experts to investigate the issue of the illegal extraction of groundwater by the IRAL, pending disposal of this application by this tribunal, so as to leave no time for it to cover up its illegal act of indulging in extraction of groundwater without necessary permissions,” the plea had said. — PTI