Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding state of water supply in Kolkata, West Bengal, 05/12/2024
Order of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of News Item titled “After Bengaluru, Water Crisis Hits Kolkata City As Ground Water Level Depletes In Many Areas, Residents Express Concern” appearing in India.com dated 22.04.2024 dated 05/12/2024.
Affidavit has been filed on behalf of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. In the affidavit, it has been stated that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has taken initiative to extend piped water supply to the remaining city population as well as distribution segment of water supply system and tentatively five years time is required for this purpose. It is also stated that the State Water Investigation Directorate (SWID) has reported that the water table is regularly increasing from the year 2018 to 2022 during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons.
The affidavit does not present a very encouraging picture and it is surprising that the state government has proposed provisions for supply of piped water in five years. That means for five years a large population of the city must go without piped water. It was submitted in the course of arguments that the problem is also aggravated due to slum colonies coming up in the city. In our opinion, this submission is not acceptable. If mushrooming slum colonies are allowed to come up in the city and is in the knowledge of the authorities, it is the duty and responsibility of the authorities to provide housing for persons living in such slum colonies ensuring adequate piped water supply. What should be the nature of the housing colony is for the government to decide but slum dwellers must be rehabilitated and provided for with drinking water which is a basic necessity, the court said.
The affidavit also does not disclose the wards in which piped water has been provided and the wards in which no piped water has been provided, the court pointed out.
The bench of B Amit Sthalekar expressed surprise as to how the building plans are sanctioned for individual houses or even for conglomerates housing colonies in the wards falling within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation if there is no guarantee of proper supply of piped water or drainage system. The NGT, December 5, 2024 directed the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to file a better affidavit without concealing any material from the court. The affidavit should be filed within four weeks, the court added.