The Delhi government has proposed imposing an environmental penalty of up to ₹5 lakh on property owners who possess an area of at least 100 square metres but fail to maintain a functional rainwater harvesting system. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi submitted a report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), suggesting that non-residential units could face a 50% increase in the penalty.
According to the proposal, properties with a plot area measuring 100 sq.m to 500 sq.m would incur an environmental compensation of ₹50,000. For plot areas between 501 sq.m and 2,000 sq.m, the penalty would be ₹1 lakh. Plot areas between 2,000 sq.m and 5,000 sq.m would attract a penalty of ₹2 lakh, while properties with a plot area exceeding 5,000 sq.m would face a penalty of ₹5 lakh.
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems were made mandatory by the Delhi government in 2012, with non-compliance resulting in a penalty of 1.5 times the water bill amount. However, a 10% rebate is offered on the water bill if an RWH system is installed.
Additionally, the Delhi government has requested the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to withdraw the rebate given on water bills to societies and institutions lacking a functional RWH system.
In response to a petition highlighting malfunctioning RWH systems in many societies in Dwarka, the NGT directed the Delhi chief secretary in February to submit an action-taken report. The tribunal also instructed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to coordinate with the DJB to address the issue, raise awareness, and prevent groundwater extraction. Furthermore, a joint committee comprising the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), and Ministry of Urban Development was formed to examine the situation nationwide.
