DJB withdraws plea in green panel

New Delhi, June 4: The Delhi Jal Board ( DJB) has withdrawn its plea in the National Green Tribunal that sought directions to the Haryana government to check the “dangerous ammonia levels” in the Yamuna, saying the issues raised in it have been amicably settled.

A bench, headed by acting NGT chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim, directed all the stakeholders to file a brief statement of compliance of the directions on Yamuna cleaning by July 25, the next date of hearing.

“Senior counsel H. S. Phoolka appearing for DJB, submits that plea filed on behalf of DJB are not pressed as they have become infructuous in view of the fact that issues have been amicably settled and discussion is in progress for future provision. Submissions taken on record. The miscellaneous applications stand disposed of as withdrawn with no order as to cost,” the bench said.

The tribunal had earlier slammed the DJB over its submission that Haryana was responsible for the high ammonia level in the Yamuna water being provided to the capital and observed that the river has been reduced to a sewer line in the city.

Asking the DJB what it has done to clean the river water, the bench had made it clear to the body that it was only concerned with the pollution in the river and would not go into the issue of water sharing dispute between the two states. Earlier, the NGT had directed Haryana to submit an action plan to address the issue.