National Green Tribunal
News Item Titled "Bengaluru Stadium To ... vs Coram: Hon'Ble Mr. Justice Prakash ... on 26 November, 2024
Item No. 12 Court No. 1
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI
Original Application No. 348/2024
News Item titled "Bengaluru stadium to get treated water supply for IPL
matches amid crisis" appearing in India Today dated 21.03.2024
Date of hearing: 26.11.2024
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR AGARWAL, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER
Respondents: Mr. Darpan K.M & Mr. Rajat Jonathan Shaw, Advs. for R - 3 (Through
VC)
Mr. Vishwaditya Sharma & Mr. Balaji Srinivasan, Advs. for R - 4
ORDER
1. In this original application, registered suo motu, the issue under consideration relates to the use of treated/fresh water by Respondent No. 4 - Cricket Stadium.
2. The reply dated 07.08.2024 has been filed by Respondent No. 4 disclosing the different sources from where the water is obtained by Respondent No. 4 for various purposes as under:
"3. In compliance with the above-mentioned order, it is submitted that the answering Respondent, Karnataka State Cricket Association, obtains water from the following sources:
a) Potable Water Supply from Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board: Water used for portable purposes viz., drinking and cooking purposes.
b) Bore Well (Ground Water):Water used for the Sports Centre and watering the turf.
c) Treated water from the STP installed at the KSCA:
Water is used for gardening and water the turf
d) Tertiary Treated Water Supply from BWSSB: KSCA purchased tertiary treated water from BWSSB for watering pitch and ground and other non-potable activities.1
e) Harvested Rain Water: Water which is the run off from the main ground is stored in a concrete sump tank and used for watering the turf.
f) Open Well: for watering the plants."
3. The status of borewell has been disclosed by Respondent No. 4 as under:
"4. xxx ......................................xxx..................................xxx A xxx ....................................xxx......................................xxx B. BORE WELL:
i. There are 4 borewells ( details given below)within the premises dug up nearly 30 years ago:
a. Near Flood light 4 : 435.68 GPH drawn rarely (max 2 hrs/day) b. Near Gate No 5 : Kept as stand by & very rarely used.
c. Near Gate No 7 : 893.40 GPH drawn for 4 hours daily d. Near Gate No 8 : 893.40 GPH drawn for 4 hours daily ii. Note: The above-mentioned four bore wells were not used during the acute water crisis in Bangalore during the summer of 2024. Instead, the answering Respondent purchased treated water from BWSSB (as detailed below).
iii. Permission Qua Borewells.1he answering Respondent has registered the above-mentioned four bore wells with the Ground Water Authorities, vide Registration Certificates dated 30.07.2021.
iv. Subsequently, permission for the extraction of groundwater was issued by the Government of Karnataka, Office of the Senior Geologist, District Ground Water Authority, vide v. Letter No: DGWA/Urban/NOC/66/2020-21/1061 dated 15.11.2021, for a period of 2 years, i.e., from 15.11.2021 to 14.11.2023.
A true copy of the Letter No: DGWA/Urban/NOC/66/2020- 21/1061 issued by the Government of Karnataka dated 15.11.2021 is annexed herewith as Annexure R-4/2. The answering Respondent has applied for the renewal of permission for groundwater extraction. Approval is currently awaited."
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4. The reply further discloses that though Respondent No. 4 has installed a sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 200 KLD using MBBR technology, it is not able to obtain the required quantity of municipal sewage to fully utilize the STP.
5. A perusal of the report filed by Respondent No. 4, especially paragraph 3(b) discloses that Respondent No. 4 is using borewell (groundwater) for watering turf, which is the fresh water source.
6. Learned Counsel for Respondent No. 4 seeks time to obtain instructions as to why Respondent No. 4 is using fresh water for watering the turf instead of the STP/treated water.
7. Let the affidavit verifying the above aspect be filed within four weeks.
8. List on 19.03.2025.
Prakash Shrivastava, CP Sudhir Agarwal, JM Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM November 26, 2024 Original Application No. 348/2024 dv..
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