Supreme Court Stays NGT's Rs 50 Crore Penalty On Delhi Jal Board & MCD Over Yamuna River Pollution

The Supreme Court today (August 8) stayed the order of the National Green Tribunal, which imposed a fine of Rs. 50.44 crores on the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and Municipal Corporation of Delhi over failure to prevent sewage pollution of Delhi's stormwater drains and the Yamuna River.

The bench of CJI BR Gavai and Justices K. Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria was hearing a challenge by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) against the NGT's order dated November 21, 2024. 

ASG SV Raju, appearing for DJB, stressed that the penalty imposes significant financial burdens on the public authorities. 

Bench while issuing notice in the matter order the stay of operation of the impugned order. 

The NGT, in the said order, imposed a fine of Rs. 50 crores on the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and DJB over their failure to prevent sewage discharge into stormwater drains, which merge with the Yamuna River.

The NGT bench noted that the authorities altered the 'functional efficacy' of the stormwater drains called the Kushak drain which resulted in the emission of toxic gases from the open part of the drain, affecting the health of locals and causing air pollution. 

The tribunal observed that the alteration of the Kushak drain was done beyond the mandate of MCD, which was "equally guilty of causing pollution"

Both MCD and DJB were directed to deposit Rs. 25.22 crores each to the central Pollution Control Board within 2 months of the order. 

The matter will now be heard after 2 months.

Case Details : DELHI JAL BOARD vs. BLK (NORTH) GK 1 RWA | Diary No. - 32510/2025 and connected matters 

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