The Indian government has introduced stricter regulations to reduce water waste, mandating bulk consumers to reuse 50% of their wastewater by 2031. Entities consuming over 5,000 liters daily must register and implement comprehensive treatment measures. New bulk users will face increasing reuse requirements, with residential societies starting at 20% in 2027-28 and reaching 50% by 2030-31. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has outlined these requirements.
These new rules, while a positive step towards improving wastewater treatment and reuse, present challenges such as varying infrastructure capabilities, conflicting targets with other national missions, and the need for significant capacity building. While the rules mandate wastewater treatment and reuse, the timelines for achieving these targets may be aggressive, especially for smaller towns and rural areas.
To ensure successful implementation, the government should address key questions such as infrastructure readiness, financial planning, capacity building, monitoring, and stakeholder engagement. By addressing these challenges and taking a multifaceted approach, India can make significant progress in improving its liquid waste management and ensuring a sustainable future. (Down to Earth, Business Standard)
Centre launches nationwide rainwater harvesting drive: Aiming for 1 million structures by next monsoon
The Centre has introduced the 'Jal Sanchay, Jan Bhagidari' initiative, aiming to construct one million rainwater harvesting structures across India before next year’s monsoon. This large-scale, community-led effort focuses on enhancing groundwater replenishment through check dams, percolation tanks, and recharge wells. The initiative builds upon the 2019 'Catch the Rain' campaign, which was launched in water-stressed districts to promote rainwater conservation.
The initiative seeks to involve various stakeholders, including the government, CSR funds, civic bodies, and water sector enthusiasts, working collectively towards a water-secure future. Under this mission, every district is responsible for ensuring that villages have at least five recharge structures to capture and store rainwater. Municipal corporations are also expected to construct a minimum of 10,000 structures within their jurisdictions.
Gujarat’s successful implementation of the initiative, particularly in Surat, inspired the nationwide expansion. A special program will be held in Surat where the Jal Shakti Minister and Gujarat’s Chief Minister will commit to constructing 80,000 rainwater harvesting structures across the state. Other states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar are expected to make similar commitments soon. (The Times of India)
NGT seeks answers on ridge encroachment
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken notice of the encroachment of Delhi's southern Ridge, a crucial green area for the city. Based on a news report highlighting the challenges in reclaiming the Ridge, the NGT has issued notices to the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), the MoEFCC, and the district magistrate (DM) of South Delhi, seeking their responses to the matter.
The NGT observed that despite being declared a reserved forest, large portions of the Ridge have been encroached upon over the years, and efforts to clear the encroachment have been slow due to legal battles, lack of manpower, and potential displacement of people. The tribunal has listed the matter for January 21, 2025, to hear the responses from the concerned authorities.
According to a 2019 survey, 357.07 hectares of encroached land were identified in the Ridge, but only about 22% has been cleared so far, with the largest encroachment in the villages of Asola and Bhatti. The slow pace of clearing encroachment is attributed to legal delays, pending land demarcations, and the absence of dedicated funds.
The NGT order also highlighted specific instances of encroachment, such as a police station, a motorcycle showroom, a spiritual organization's lawns, farmhouses, and other private properties situated on forest land. Additionally, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has sought permission to build on a portion of its Maidangarhi campus, raising questions about the demarcation and documentation of forest land.
The NGT order emphasized the complexity and slow progress of reclaiming the southern Ridge, highlighted the need for more effective measures and dedicated resources to protect this crucial green space, and raised substantial issues relating to the compliance of provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. (The Indian Express)
Bengaluru lakes facing encroachment and pollution: NGT intervenes
The NGT has issued notices to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and other officials regarding a Lokayukta report on two lakes in Bengaluru. The report found blocked stormwater drains and encroachments as major issues contributing to the alarmingly low water levels in the lakes. The NGT has ordered the respondents to submit their responses by November 5.
The NGT was reviewing a case related to the Lokayukta's investigation into the Vibhutipura and Doddanekundi lakes in Bengaluru, which revealed several problems. In a recent decision, a panel of judges led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava stated that "the news report indicates that in Vibhutipura Lake, officials discovered the entrance gate damaged, fencing destroyed, and unauthorized structures within the premises."
"The lake's water level was alarmingly low, even during the rainy season, due to a blocked outflow channel. Encroachments and improper use of facilities were also observed. Additionally, it was found that the Doddanekundi Lake faced similar issues," he said.
The bench, which also included judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel, noted that "the news article raises significant concerns regarding compliance with the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Environment (Protection) Act."
The NGT observed that the DM's legal representative acknowledged the notice and requested additional time to file a response. "Let a notice be issued to the other respondents to submit their response or reply in the form of an affidavit to the southern zonal bench of the tribunal in Chennai at least one week before the next hearing date (November 5)," the tribunal ordered. (Business Standard)
NGT takes notice of Punjab forest encroachment
The NGT has issued notices to authorities regarding construction activities in Chandigarh's periphery that threaten the local ecosystem. The NGT is concerned about the construction taking place on lands recently de-listed from forest status, which may violate Supreme Court guidelines. The NGT has ordered the respondents to file their responses by January 28.
The NGT was hearing a matter where it had taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of a newspaper report regarding the Punjab Forest Department raising alarm over the activities. In an order dated October 1, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, "As per the article, the Punjab Forest Department has flagged several sites in Mirzapur, Jayanti Majri, Karoran, Bharonjian, Siswan, and Nada villages, where construction is taking place on lands recently de-listed from forest status."
"It is alleged that developers are reportedly building farmhouses and plots in these areas, violating the Supreme Court guidelines on de-listed forest lands, and these lands, previously classified as forest land, now fall under the jurisdiction of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA)," he said. The bench also comprising judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert members Afroz Ahmad and A Senthil Vel said the news item highlighted that such constructions were threatening the local biodiversity, including the local flora and fauna.
Underlining the report "raised substantial issues" relating to compliance with environmental norms, the tribunal impleaded as parties or respondents several authorities, including Punjab's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, the regional office of the MoEFCC in the state, and the district magistrate of Chandigarh. "Issue notice to the above respondents for filing their response/reply," said the tribunal. The matter has been posted for further proceedings on January 28. (Hindustan Times)