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NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to complete sewerage network work in south Delhi’s Inderpuri by May 31 next year. A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed DJB to furnish a performance guarantee of Rs 5 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board within one month to ensure that there is no further lapse in this regard.

The green panel made it clear that the amount will be forfeited if the work is not completed and operationalised on or before May 31, 2019.

“We direct the DJB to ensure completion of the work of ‘Improvement of sewerage network in Inderpuri and nearby areas’ and the 11 million gallons per day sewage pumping station at Satya Park positively on or before May 31, 2019,” the bench observed.

In addition, the tribunal directed that steps be taken at the earliest for disposal of municipal solid waste and cleaning of drains in the area and for ensuring cleaning of garbage and de-silting may be done at least once in a month.

Senior advocate H S Phoolka, appearing for the DJB, however, informed the tribunal that the process for awarding the work was ongoing and its operationalisation may take almost a year.

The tribunal was hearing directions filed by city resident Bharat Bhushan Uppal who sought directions for removal of municipal solid waste in the area as well as cleaning of the drain. The petitioner said the area had become a breeding ground for mosquitos and was rarely cleaned.

The tribunal, following the petition, had issued notices to the Delhi government and DJB asking them to immediately clean the drain.

