Noida, 29 Nov: The Gautam Buddh Nagar administration has issued fines of โน 23 lakh on businesses, including four group housing societies, for unlawful groundwater extraction. The administration also ordered the filing of an FIR against one society in Greater Noida (West) for groundwater exploitation.
The information was provided at a review meeting of the District Ground Water Management Committee on Tuesday, which was presided over by District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma. According to an official statement, during the meeting, the DM directed staff to take action and levy fines on people who exploit groundwater.
According to the statement, the District Magistrate has directed Ground Water Department officials to impose a ?2 lakh fine on illegal plant operators and has lodged FIR against Mayfair Residency in Tech Zone 4 area, as well as a ?5 lakh fine over illegal groundwater exploitation in Sikka Kamna Greens in Noida Sector 143. The Futec and Garden Galleria housing societies of Sector 75 in Noida have been ordered to pay a ?5 lakh fine each, according to the statement. The district magistrate also directed authorities to hold groundwater conservation awareness workshops throughout the district.
Ground Water Officer Ankit Rai informed Verma that 52 applications for groundwater extraction were received on Monday on the department’s portal, and that the District Ground Water Management Committee will approve the applications after receiving information from the local authorities.
According to the statement, Rai notified the administration that 13 of these petitions were denied, while nine were chosen to be forwarded to the state authorities for further procedures.
The DM directed the district-level task force to ensure groundwater conservation by industrial, infrastructure, commercial, and collective consumers in relation to the no-objection certificates issued so far for groundwater purposes in the district, with the goal of ensuring maximum conservation of groundwater in the district.
The state of water recharge structures in housing societies, flats, government buildings, workplaces, and so on should also be properly evaluated, according to the DM.
According to the statement, he also told Geology Department officials that, in order to further promote groundwater conservation, large industrial units should be urged to replenish and rehabilitate the ponds.
