Haryana notice for illegal extraction of groundwater

Haryana town and country planning department has issued show cause notices to 52 colonisers who were allegedly engaged in illegal extraction of groundwater for construction purposes in Gurgaon.

Close on the heels of directions from Punjab and Haryana High Court, the colonisers have been asked to explain the reasons for “withdrawing groundwater for construction purposes” against the approval of CGWB or Haryana state pollution control board.
And also in violation of the last month’s orders of Punjab and Haryana High Court as well as against the approval of state environment impact assessment authority.

The colonisers have been directed that groundwater should not be used for construction purpose.


The central ground water board (CGWB), northwestern region and deputy commissioner, Gurgaon have been asked to take necessary action for sealing unauthorised tubewells and borewells, said town planning department’s spokesman.
A month ago, Punjab and Haryana High Court had barred issuance of any fresh license for construction activity unless builders give an undertaking that underground water would not be drawn by them.

The Court had also directed Gurgaon’s deputy commissioner and CGWB to visit the sites where construction is going on to ensure that groundwater is not used for the construction purposes.

Residents welfare association and other petitioners had filed petitions in the High Court alleging that the builders in Gurgaon had been extracting groundwater using borewells for construction activities.
The authorities had curtailed supply of drinking water in many areas causing agony to the common citizens.