Repair sewers or go to jail
Court told Delhi water utility officers
THE Delhi High Court has sentenced a former chief executive officer of the Delhi Jal Board and two other officers to two weeks in jail for not repairing sewer lines in the capital and letting the sewage flow into the Yamuna without treatment.
The court on November 25 held former chief executive officer Arun Mathur, chief engineer (drainage) R K Jain and executive engineer (civil) P Pant guilty of committing contempt of court by not abiding by an undertaking given to it two years ago to repair broken sewer lines and stop flow of sewage into the storm-water drain in four areas of South Delhi. The three officers were also fined Rs 20,000 each. A fourth officer, former chief engineer B M Dhaul, escaped punishment because he has retired.
The court has, however suspended the jail term for three months. During this period the board can complete the repair work and escape punishment.
At present, sewage is flowing into a 4 km storm-water drain along Greater Kailash, Masjid Moth, EPR Colony and Chirag Enclave in South Delhi.