Pranav B Prem

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Principal Bench in New Delhi has directed the Haryana Government and the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to clarify whether Diversion Drain No. 6 (DD-6) is a stormwater drain and to disclose the steps taken to ensure proper tapping of wastewater flowing into Diversion Drain No. 8 (DD-8), which is one of Delhi’s key sources of drinking water. The Bench of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Dr. A. Senthil Vel issued the direction while hearing a petition alleging contamination of the Yamuna arising from untreated effluents entering DD-8.

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The Original Application, initiated on the basis of a news report regarding fish mortality in the Yamuna near Burari in 2024, flagged concerns about industrial and sewage discharge into the river. Media reports indicated a recurrence of fish deaths in 2025, prompting the Tribunal to examine the quality of inflows into DD-8, which meets the Yamuna upstream of Delhi’s water intake point. During the hearing, the Tribunal noted that sewage and effluent-laden water from DD-6 was reportedly entering DD-8, raising questions about whether DD-6 was wrongly being used as a carrier of wastewater.

The Tribunal observed that crucial information regarding the nature and status of DD-6 was missing and therefore directed the State and HSPCB to file an affidavit within six weeks disclosing whether DD-6 is indeed a stormwater drain, whether it is being tapped as a permanent measure, and whether the diverted wastewater is being routed to a sewage treatment plant.

The Tribunal took note of the compliance report dated 28 November 2025 submitted by the HSPCB, which reproduced the decisions taken in a joint meeting held on 30 October 2025. The meeting, chaired by the CPCB Member Secretary and attended by officers of the DPCC, HSPCB and Haryana Irrigation & Water Resources Department, recorded several action points to address the inflow of pollutants into DD-8.

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As per the minutes, Haryana authorities and the HSPCB were directed to prepare a comprehensive inventory of all discharge points, including non-point sources from villages, industrial clusters and habitations, that may be contributing wastewater into DD-8. They were also required to prepare and submit a detailed action plan by 6 November 2025 to control such discharges. Additionally, the Irrigation Department was tasked with submitting a work plan and timeline for covering the remaining stretches of DD-6, while HSPCB was directed to file an action plan for improving water quality in DD-6.

The report further disclosed that quarterly joint monitoring of DD-8 and the Yamuna would be conducted at four locations—Yamuna before the confluence with DD-8, DD-8 before the confluence, Yamuna after the confluence, and Yamuna at Burari. Monthly monitoring was also mandated during the lean-flow months of April to July. The first quarterly monitoring cycle for October–December 2025 is scheduled to be completed in December 2025, and the monitoring regime is expected to continue until July 2027 unless modified by the Tribunal.

The minutes also revealed that DD-8 is designated as a fresh-water drain, whereas DD-6 is not. Mixing of flows was occurring because of a breach in the separation wall between the two drains near Akbarpur Barota. Counsel for the State informed the Tribunal that the breach had since been repaired.

The Tribunal also took note of an HSPCB communication dated 21 November 2025, which recorded that DD-6 receives 51.124 MLD of sewage and industrial waste and that the treatment infrastructure currently available consists of 67 MLD across four sewage treatment plants and 46.2 MLD across three CETPs. Despite DD-8 being classified as a fresh-water drain, it receives treated wastewater amounting to 15.8 MLD from three STPs at Gohana and Kharkhoda.

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Expressing concern about both treated and untreated wastewater entering drains designated as fresh-water channels, the Tribunal sought greater clarity from the State and the Pollution Board regarding the classification and management of DD-6, especially in light of its hydrological linkage with DD-8 and the downstream drinking-water implications for Delhi. The Tribunal has granted the applicant one month to file objections or responses, and the matter is scheduled for further hearing on 20 February 2026.

Appearance

Respondent: Mr. Mohit Singhal, Adv. for R - 1 Mr. Narender Pal Singh, Adv. for R - 2 Mr. Gigi. C. George, Adv. for R - 4 Ms. Jyoti Mendirata & Ms. Ananya Basudha, Advs. for R - 5 & 8 Mr. Rahul Khurana, Adv. for R - 6 & 7

Cause Title: News Item titled "Delhi News बुराड़ी में यमुना नदी किनारे मतृ अवस्था में ममली हजारों मछमलयाां, दर्गु धं से ग्राम़ीण परेशान" appearing in Jagran.com dated 04.07.2024.

Case No: Original Application No. 923/2024

Coram: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson Hon’ble Dr. A. Senthil Vel, Expert Member