OFFICE OF THE YAMUNA POLLUTION MONITORING COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY HON’BLE NGT ROOM NO. 58, 8INTERNATIONAL CENTRE 40, MAX MUELLER MARG, LODHI ESTATE NEW – 110003

No. YPMC/2020/ 475 Dated: 03.09.2020

Subject: Pathetic conditions of Barapulla Nalla particularly stretch from - Nizamuddin Basti to Pant Nagar - A and Jangpura B to .

The third meetings of the YMC to deal with the problems of sewer overflow near Barapulla drain mainly emerging from Nizamuddin West was taken up for the fourth time today (1.9.2020) in YMC’s office. The YMC had visited various locations along Kushak Drain and Barapulla drain on 27.9.2019 and 27.2.2020 and representatives of DJB, SDMC as well as the colony RWAs were present. Minutes were issued after visit. During both visits DJB Engineers had complained that the Nizamuddin Basti houses were not undertaking repair of their domestic sewer service connections leading to the DJB sewer manholes which was a residents’ responsibility. As a result, there was overflow of sewage causing unhygienic conditions and foul smell in the area. YMC had given directions that action must be taken as per law and errant households should be penalized for continuing to cause a civic nuisance. When the situation of household sewer maintenance came up at a meeting held by YMC on 1.9.20 the representatives of DJB said that a few notices had been issued and it was for the Magistrate to deal with the problem further. Also Magistrate’s Court was not functioning. This appears to be very strange excuse. DJB should act as per provisions of Delhi Water Board Act-1998 and if householders do not act as directed DJB has sufficient authority to enforce compliance. It certainly cannot go on for nearly one year after the inspection was held. The spillover sewage is going into the storm water drain and polluting the water reaching the river. The urgent SOS’ from the RWA complaining about no response to the terrible conditions prevailing showed that nothing effective had been done by SDMC and DJB. At the meeting YMC was assured by the Chief Engineer Mr. V.P. Sharma that they had taken up the work and in the next 10 days the cleaning of sewer line will be completed. If that were so it should have been communicated to the residents who for want of a response had written emails and letters to YMC in desperation. Cleaning the manholes still leaves the polluting households free to allow deficient connections to pollute the area which must be addressed. Needed is an SOP for acting against errant households as the engineers are fighting shy of acting against polluting households. A major related issue is that of there being no access to the manholes. That this was never treated as a necessity for years together is astonishing! The DJB somehow managed to get a sewer cleaning machine to access the area from the main road with the help of crane. That is however a temporary solution and requires a permanent engineering solution whether by building an access ramp or some other solution to be executed without further delay. The residents of various South Delhi colonies namely , and Nizamuddin West have been constantly petitioning the Yamuna Monitoring Committee about the heavy pollution in the drains surrounding their houses. Whereas the present complaint is only related to the specific problems of the RWAs of Nizamuddin West and Jangpura colonies, YMC brings to the notice of CEO DJB the following facts which he may note as important: 1. Directions given to DJB to act against errant households for over several months have gone unheeded except issue of a few notices with no follow -up. 2. Before the meeting YMC had had a detailed report prepared by its advisor Sh. R.S. Tyagi which is attached at Annexure-I. It gives a complete account of continued absence of coordination in terms of the Chief Secretary’s order number dated 8.2.19 when both Ex-Ens were made responsible for the portion of the drain under their jurisdiction. 3. The letters from the RWA regarding the pathetic conditions of Barapulla Nalla, the pollution and unhygienic conditions are being received on email by YMC over rainy weekends because the civic bodies aren’t responding to complaints. Annexure - II and III. 4. Sewage is overflowing near Nizamuddin West even after 2 inspections have been held and there was agreement that it would be attended to. The sewage part must be addressed effectively properly by CEO, DJB as repeated meetings and inspections have largely remained inconclusive for over a year. 5. The meeting on 1.9.20 was highly unsatisfactory. If fund constraint is quoted as a problem, a bigger problem of disease outbreak will take over. The residents have even gone to the Supreme Court related to the persisting unhygienic conditions. The list of those who attended the meeting on 1.9.20 is attached. No citizen should be suffering due to the consequences of such inaction by civic agencies causing overflow of rain water and sewage into the drains which then discharge into residential areas and homes. This is not a small issue and if left to be handled as has been going on will only result in excuses and explanations which give no relief to citizens. The meetings of YMC have been attended by Chief Engineers of SDMC /DJB as well as by the Deputy Commissioner of MCD in the past, including at the site inspections. This points to the meetings being treated as mere formalities with no accountability. A similar communication has gone to Commissioner SDMC because garbage and malba accumulation is an MCD matter. A report of the meeting held under your chairmanship may be given to YMC as this is not a new matter and has been going on since 2018 with no perceptible difference. The problem of Nizamuddin West should be seen not a residents problem alone but also as allowing preventable sewage from going into the drain. This is a fit case where environmental compensation should be levied when the negligence is leading to destruction of the environment. Since the Barapulla drain is very important part of this whole South Delhi drain complex, the Chief Executive Officer, DJB is advised to hold meeting and find a permanent solution to sewage from residential areas which is unrelated to neighboring states wholly a Delhi problem. The outcome of what DJB decides will be contained in the next report of YMC to NGT. Sd/- Sd/- Shailaja Chandra, B.S. Sajwan, Member, Member, Monitoring Committee for Yamuna Monitoring Committee for Yamuna

To: 1. CEO, DJB Copy to: 1. Commissioner, South DMC.

Encl: as above ______Address: Room No. 58, India International Centre 40, Max Mueller Marg, – 110003 Telephone No: 011- 24609270

Attendance Sheet

Sub: Meeting with CE, DJB, Comm. SDMC & Sh. R.S.Tyagi reg. Nizamuddin & Jangpura. Date & Time: 01.09.2020 at 02.30 P.M Venue: Room No. 70 of India International Centre, 40, Max Mueller Marg, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi- 110003.

S. No Name of Officer Designation Contact No. E-mail ID. (Pl. WRITE Signature EASILY READABLE) 1. Sh. R.S.Tyagi Expert Consultant 2. Sh. Narender Kumar SE (South) 9650291512 [email protected]

3. Sh. V.P.Sharma CE (S), DJB 9650291024 [email protected]

4. Sh. Sunil Kumar Mittal SE/SDMC 858888012 [email protected]

5.

6.

Disclaimer: All the Contents of this document are under Copyright. Annexure-I

Subject: Inspection of Barapulla drain and Nizamuddin Basti in R/O the complaint of Nizamuddin West Association

1. Background:

The monitoring committee for abatement of pollution in the river Yamuna, created under the direction of National Green Tribunal (NGT), received the following complaint for Nizamuddin Resident Welfare Association through email:

“This is to bring to your kind notice at Bara Pullan drain beside Nizamuddin West New Delhi with due to Bara Pullah drain is block it not clean no desilting on time Residence of Nizamuddin West Basti Nizamuddin and Pant Nager are facing rain water logging problem due to non maintenance of Bara Pullah drain by SDMC Delhi Jal Board and PWD many complaint done in past but no action taken by the SDMC and Delhi Jal Board every time residence of Nizamuddin West are facing rain water logging problem in basement and loose of property like our vehicle are damage seepage in basement due to rain water and the same is causing hazards to the health of the people of colony especially those who are living in the affected area cause of sever overflow now is monsoon is coming it may be cause of water overflowing breeding mosquito and other kind of dieses.

I request to you please do the need full on urgent bases and take the action against SDMC Delhi Jal Board and PWD.

Video and photo is attached Thanking You,

Yours Faithfully, Sheikh Mohd Umar, Secretary, Nizamuddin West Association (Regd)”

Accordingly, I was asked to inspect the site and appraise the ground report. I request the concerned officers of Delhi Jal Board and the representatives of Association to inspect the site on 27.08.2020 at 11 am.

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2. Officers and the representatives who attended the inspection: Delhi Jal Board: I. Sh. Narender Kumar S.E.(South) II. Sh. Tarique Ahd. Z.E. III. J.E.

Nizamuddin West Association: Sheikh Mohd Umar, Secretary

3. Observations: Sewage coming from some of the residents was found leaking through the individual sewer connections. The sludge has been deposited on the surface which is really an unhygienic.

3.1. A video of sewer overflow during rains was also shown by the representative.

3.2. It was also informed that previously these was a small built up drain (Cunnette) in the middle of drain which was meant for accommodating dry weather flow which was damaged by PWD during construction of overhead corridor on Barapula drain before Commonwealth drain. After damage of Cunnette and filling of C&D waste, the waste water in drain is spreading over large cross section of drain.

Heaps of C&D waste and garbage is being dumped on the banks of drain.

4. Explanations of Delhi Jal Board & Action taken by them: It was informed that the responsibility of maintaining sewer connections rest with the consumers. DJB issued notices to the defaulters, but none of them has taken action for repair of sewer connections. Now, DJB has again issued the notices for taking action by the consumers. If they don’t take action, Delhi Jal Board will repair those connections at their cost and will recover from their water bills.

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For cleaning of sewer manhole as visible in the above photographs, DJB informed that they have started manual cleaning as there is no approach for taking sewer cleaning machines uoto the manholes in questions. They have proposed to break the walls of DJB Meter Workshop and fix a gate for making access to sewer cleaning machines. I requested Member (Dr) on phone to expedite the matter so that manholes are cleaned and spreading of sewage on ground can be prevented.

In so far as cleaning of garbage and restoration of cross section of Barapula drain is concerned, since, the drain owning agency is South DMC, the following issues may be taken up with South DMC for: • Dredging of silt and deposited malba from the bed of drain, removal of malba and to prevent dumping of Malba in the drain • Restoration of original cross section of drain, • Construction of Cunnette to limit the width of flow of waste water within the drain during dry weather flow. • Plantation and land scapping on the banks of drain.

Dated: 28-08-2020

Er. R.S. Tyagi Former Member (WS/Dr), DJB

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Subject: Inspection of Barapual drain, its tributaries and Jungapura-A&B blocks in R/O the complaint of Jungpura Residents West Association. 5. Background:

The monitoring committee created under the direction of National Green Tribunal (NGT), received the following complaint for Jungpura Resident Welfare Association on dated 24th August 2020, through email :

“Pathetic conditions of Barapullah Nallah particularly stretch from Nizamuddin basti to vai Pant Nagar- Jangpura A and Jangpura B- Sarai Kale Khan to reach Yamuna River: The Kushak Nala and Sunheri Nala merge at Nizamuddin (Lodhi Hotel) and reach Yamuna River via Sarai Kaley Khan. During construction of Barapulla elevated road several heavy machines and cranes along with heavy construction material were brought inside nallah. In order to ease their movement, thousands of tonnes of MALBA(Solid Waste) was dumped during Commonwealth era 2010. In this process of building of elevated road the central stream (cemented brick channel) was also broken and kacha channel was built in a haphazard manner. Post the games, nobody bothered to clear the malba and remaking the central stream channel back to its form...this has: 1. Decreased the depth of nalla thereby rainy water drain falling in the nalla hare choke with little rain and started back firing after 10 minutes of continuous rain. 2. Having no central stream channel round the year filth all around causes obnoxious smell, mosquito because of stagnant water often. 3. LSR-Lajpatnagar-Pantnagar chhota nallah carrying human excreta of several jhuggi bastis has a STP plant before merging into Barapulla nallah, built by DDA has never been used since last 10 years. 4. Another chhota nallah in Jungpura-A( From Dr. J.P. Gupta Dental Clinic to Barapulla nallah)carrying again human excreta 4 meter nearby homes (illegally) comes into the Barapula nalah. The jhuggis and the illegal shanties having piggeries and other pets like cows and buffalos etc. are putting waste into Barapulla. You are requested to take into cognizance of all these acts and come out with a solution if we really want to clean Yamuna. Regards

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Anil Goswami, General Secretary, Jungpura Residents Welfare Association” Thanking You,

Accordingly, I was asked to discuss the issues with Delhi Jal Board, inspect the site and appraise the ground report. I requested the concerned officers of Delhi Jal Board and the representatives of Association to inspect the site on 27.08.2020 at 11 am.

6. Officers and the representatives who attended the inspection: Delhi Jal Board: IV. Sh. Narender Kumar S.E.(South) V. Sh. Tarique Ahd. Z.E. VI. J.E.

Jungpura Residents Welfare Association: Sh. Anil Goswami, General Secretary

7. Observations: 3.1. Historically, there used to be the Central stream called as Cunnette which purpose is that during dry weather flow when discharge in the drain is minimum, the flow should be restricted within small portion of the drain to attain self cleansing velocity (the velocity of the flow is such that it neither cause siltation nor erode the material of the bed of drain. It is fact that during construction of elevated road on Barapula drain, a lot of malba has been dumped. Malba is still being dumped on either sides of the bank of Barapulla drain as evident from the Malba dumped within Barapulla drain photograph.

3.2. Foul smell from waste water flowing in the drain: Since, Barapulla drain is carrying sewage water from sewered and unsewered areas through Kushak and Sunheri Bagh drain, the obnoxious gases are emitting from the drain which is affecting the health of residents nearby.

3.3. STP constructed by DDA on Jungpura drain: There are signs of some components of STP which is not functional. Residents nearby informed that this STP never worked.

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3.4. Encroachments on the Barapulla and its subsidiary drains:

There are lots of encroachments on the banks of Barapulla drains like Jhuggis wherefrom human excreta is being discharged directly into the drain. Many Jhuggis occupiers have live stocks like buffaloes, cows and goats and cow dung is being discharged into drain untreated. The encroachers are not only polluting the drain but also reducing the water ways of the drains resulting overflow during rains.

Temple is constructed over the covered portion of Jungpura drain in B-Block. Similarly, the residents have extended their courtyards and encroached upon sewer lines.

Jhuggi on bank of Barapula having Jhuggi constructed over drain Live stocks

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Temple constructed on covered Jungpura Residents extended courtyards and drain encroached upon sewer lines

8. Explanations of Delhi Jal Board & Action taken by them: The representatives of Delhi Jal Board informed that: • As per Action Plan already submitted by them in R/O reducing waste water in Kushak drain, the major quantity of sewage shall be trapped into sewerage network. Thereafter, problem of foul smell will be resolved to the larger extent. • Waste water from Jungpura drain will be trapped into nearby sewer line. The work has been awarded and will be taken up shortly.

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• After conducting survey, notices will be issued to the residents who have encroached upon the sewer line in Jungpura-A block for removal of illegal structures. 9. Restoration of original cross section of Barapula drain & Removal of Malba: In so far as cleaning of garbage and restoration of original cross section of Barapula drain is concerned, since, the drain owning agency is South DMC, the following issues may be taken up with South DMC for: • Dredging of silt and deposited malba from the bed of drain, removal of malba and to prevent dumping of Malba in the drain • Restoration of original cross section of drain i/c construction of central stream (Cunnette) to limit the width of flow of waste water within the drain during dry weather flow.

Dated: 28-08-2020

Er. R.S. Tyagi Former Member (WS/Dr), DJB

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Monitoring Committee River Yamuna

Complaint against SDMC Delhi Jal Board & PWD water logging in Nizamuddin West due to non maintenance of Bara Pullah drain.

Sheikh Mohd Umar 5 August 2020 at 14:26 To: Monitoring Committee River Yamuna Cc: [email protected]

Respected Sir, This is to bring to your kind notice at Bara Pullan drain beside Nizamuddin West New Delhi with due to Bara Pullah drain is block it not clean no desilting on time Residence of Nizamuddin West Basti Nizamuddin and Pant Nager are facing rain water logging problem due to non maintenance of Bara Pullah drain by SDMC Delhi Jal Board and PWD many complaint done in past but no action taken by the SDMC and Delhi Jal Board every time residence of Nizamuddin West are facing rain water logging problem in basement and loose of property like our vehicle are damage seepage in basement due to rain water and The same is causing hazards to the health of the people of colony especially those who are living in the affected area cause of sever overlow now is monsoon is coming it may be cause of water overlowing breeding mosquito and other kind of dieses. I request to you please do the need full on urgent bases and take the action against SDMC Delhi Jal Board and PWD. Video and photo is attached

Thanking You,

Yours Faithfully,

Sheikh Mohd Umar

Secretary, Nizamuddin West Association (Regd) G-38 Nizamuddin West New Delhi 110013

9811380650

WhatsApp Video 2020-08-05 at 12.08.35 PM.mp4 6840K