Disposed

Arun Kumar Tomar v. Ranjeet Singh

NGT1 Jul 2025IA No. 439/2025 in Original Application No. 292/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The applicant alleged illegal groundwater withdrawal via borewells by private builders in Delhi. The Tribunal directed the Delhi Jal Board to investigate the listed plots within three months and report back, directing sealing if found unpermitted.

What did the court decide?

Order: Delhi Jal Board to verify the complaint regarding illegal operation of borewells within three months and take sealing action if found correct.

Arun Kumar Tomar vs Ranjeet Singh — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2025)

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Item No. 07 Court No. 1

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BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI

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Original Application No. 292/2025 (IA No 439/2025)

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Arun Kumar Tomar Applicant Versus

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Ranjeet Singh & Ors. Respondent(s)

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Date of hearing: 01.07.2025

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON HON’BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER

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Applicant: Ms. Rashi Sharma & Mr. Sanjeev Thakur, Advs. for Applicant

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ORDER

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In this original application, the Applicant has raised the grievance that the private builders, Respondents No. 1 to 19 have illegally dug the borewells and they are withdrawing ground water without any permission in an illegal manner. The Applicant has disclosed the plot numbers where these borewells are illegally operating and submersible pumps have been put as under:

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“Plot No.34, Old Gupta Colony, Vijay Nagar, Delhi-110009, Plot No. D-2, C.C. Colony, Near Kalyan Vihar, Delhi-110009, Plot No.208, Old Gupta Colony, Vijay Nagar, Delhi-110009, Plot No.20-H, Old Gupta Colony, Vijay Nagar, Delhi-110009, Plot No.104-B, Old Gupta Colony, Vijay Nagar, Delhi-110009, Plot No.16-B, Block 'B', New Gupta Colony, Delhi-110009, Plot No.20, Block 'B', New Gupta Colony, Delhi-110009, Plot No.6, Block 'B', New Gupta Colony, Delhi-110009, Plot No.C-1, Sardar Nagar, Near New Gupta Colony, Delhi-110009, Plot No.16-B, Old Gupta Colony, Delhi-110009, Plot No.79-B, Block 'B', New Gupta Colony, Delhi-110009, Plot No.147, Old Gupta Colony, Vijay Nagar, Delhi-110009, Plot No.3/7, Sardar Nagar, Near C.C. Colony, Delhi-110009, Plot No.147, Kalyan Vihar, Near New Gupta Colony, Delhi-110009, Plot No. 211, Kalyan Vihar, New Gupta Colony, Delhi-110009, Plot No.86-E, Old Gupta Colony, Vijay Nagar, Delhi-110009, Plot No. D-12, D-13 & D-20, Old Gupta Colony, Vijay Nagra, Delhi-110009, Plot No.131 to 138 New Gupta Colony, Delhi-110009, Plot No.10-B, Block-B, New Gupta Colony, Delhi-110009.”

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The Applicant alleges that the Respondents No. 1 to 19 are engaged

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in the construction and building activities for the commercial purpose and

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they are violating the norms and illegally extracting groundwater and they have no other source of water for the said project.

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Learned Counsel for the Applicant submits that though the complaint was made to the Chairman, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) on 20.01.2025, but till now no action has been taken by the DJB. She has also referred to the Notification dated 18.05.2010 which requires the action to be taken against the illegally operating borewells.

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Since, a complaint has already been made by the Applicant to the DJB and the allegation made by the Applicant requires verification at the ground level by carrying out the spot inspection which the DJB is required to do on the complaint of the Applicant, thereafter, the requisite action is required to be taken by the concerned SDM which has not been done. Therefore, we dispose of the OA at this stage directing the DJB to duly consider the complaint of the Applicant noted above and ascertain if the borewells disclosed by the Applicant are operating illegally and, if the allegation is found to be correct, ensure appropriate action in terms of the Notification for the sealing and seizure of the borewells. The DJB and the concerned SDM are directed to complete this exercise, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of three months and submit the action taken report before the Tribunal immediately thereafter. If found necessary, the matter will be listed again before the Bench for consideration.

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The OA is accordingly disposed of. IA No. 439/2025 will also stand disposed of.

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Prakash Shrivastava, CP

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Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM

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July 01, 2025 OA No. 292/2025 (IA No 439/2025) dv

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Arun Kumar Tomar v. Ranjeet Singh

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Arun Kumar Tomar v. Ranjeet Singh

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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