The order is one of its kind as drawing of water from wells is rampant and considered to be illegal but is the source of a thriving water tanker mafia
In a one-of-its-kind move, two wells in south Mumbai will be filled up and closed after the National Green Tribunal (NGT), western zone bench, Pune accepted their closure once it was clear that permissions were not in place to draw water from them. An occupant of the building had complained about its illegal usage. The order is one of its kind as drawing of water from wells is rampant and considered to be illegal but is the source of a thriving water tanker mafia.
The two wells were functioning from Pandya Mansion next to Kalbadevi Post Office, maintained by TN Pandya. The order was passed by a bench of Justice UD Salvi and Dr Nagin Nanda, expert member of the NGT, western zone on July 25. It was passed after a non-compliance complaint filed by Sureshkumar Dhoka.
The court has asked the complainant, Dhoka, to be present on August 3 when the wells will be filled with the help of BMC and give his note to the NGT. This is because earlier directions of the NGT to seek permissions were not complied with and water continued to be illegally drawn out. The NGT has also allowed him to file a separate application for environmental compensation.
Dhoka took on the issue of illegal drawing of water from the wells and selling to water tankers after his son was hospitalised by the unhygienic conditions created due to them. DNA had earlier written about how all the authorities found the drawing of water to be illegal but none took action.
BMC officials and police were also fined by the information commission for not disclosing information on action taken on his complaints. “Since they did not have a no objection certificate from either the central ground water authority or state ground water authority, we accepted that and they offered to shut down the well permanently,” said Abhay Parab, advocate for Dhoka who appeared in the case. Prakash Pandya, trustee for TN Pandya did not respond to calls from DNA.
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