The Delhi High Court came down heavily on civic and government agencies in the national capital for their failure to take responsibility for redeveloping sewage lines and stormwater drains in 27 industrial areas, calling the state of affairs “appalling.”
A Division Bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Arora summoned several senior officials of the Delhi Government, including the Chief Secretary, to appear before the Court and explain why no agency has stepped forward to take charge of the essential infrastructure redevelopment.
“The presence of these officials is primarily to assist the Court in determining how to deal with this situation where none of the agencies is willing to take responsibility for the construction or development of sewage lines, storm water drains, connections to STPs and CETPs, and their monitoring,” the Court observed.
Top Officials Summoned
The officials directed to appear before the Court are:
• Mr. Rajeev Verma, Chief Secretary, GNCTD
• Mr. Bipul Pathak, Additional Chief Secretary, Ministry of Industries, GNCTD
• Ms. Nazuk Kumar, Managing Director, DSIIDC
• Mr. Ashwani Kumar, Commissioner, MCD
• Mr. Sandeep Mishra, Secretary, DPCC
The Court was hearing two suo motu PILs, including one initiated in 2022 concerning the lack of rainwater harvesting and the issue of traffic congestion during the monsoon season.
“Basic Facilities Non-Existent”
The Bench noted with concern that no sewage or stormwater drainage systems exist in 27 industrial areas across Delhi and that no agency — DSIIDC, DJB, MCD, or the Industries Department — has accepted responsibility for the redevelopment.
“It is thus clear that basic facilities of sewage lines and storm water drains are non-existent. Connecting sewage lines to STPs and CETPs would be the next step. Industries are already functioning in these areas, resulting in contamination of groundwater and flow of untreated water into the Yamuna. This is an extremely appalling situation,” the Court stated.
The Bench directed the officials to meet before the next hearing and submit a joint action plan for addressing the problem.
The Court further directed that during deliberations, the officials must take into account the Cabinet’s decision dated August 22, 2023, which had already outlined steps for redevelopment. However, the Court noted that no substantial progress had been made since that decision, except for the appointment of three consultants.
“If no meaningful decision is placed on record by way of a joint report, the above officials shall remain present in Court physically. However, if a detailed report providing concrete solutions is filed, they may appear virtually on the next date of hearing,” the Bench clarified.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on November 22, 2025.
Earlier, the Court had ordered the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to file a joint report outlining measures to address issues raised by a Special Committee concerning the discharge of untreated water from sewage treatment plants (STPs) into the Yamuna River.
On May 5, 2025, the Court had constituted this Special Committee to conduct on-site inspections of all 37 STPs in Delhi.
In previous hearings, the Court had expressed its prima facie opinion that many STPs were non-functional or below standard, discharging raw sewage directly into the Yamuna, and had strongly criticized the ineffective drainage system, calling it “totally pathetic” and in a “very bad state of affairs.”
The suo motu PIL was initiated after the Court took cognizance of a Times of India report dated June 18, 2022, highlighting widespread waterlogging and poor urban drainage management in Delhi.
Case Title: Court on its Own Motion v. Union of India
