DIRECTS CHIEF SECRETARY TO PERSONALLY FIX RESPONSIBILITY AND ACT AGAINST ERRING OFFICERS.
(MOREPIC1) Face2News/New Delhi
National Green Tribunal (NGT) slams Punjab Govt for intentional delay in providing clean drinking water to Zirakpur-Banur-Rajpura belt; directs Chief Secretary to personally fix responsibility and act against erring officers.
The Principal Bench of NGT on 18 November 2025 severely reprimanded the Punjab Government for its complete failure to comply with the Tribunal’s order passed more than two years ago and for deliberately violating its own solemn undertaking.
Ms. Sunaina, Advocate, Social worker and Environment Activist has filed the present Petition/application in 2022 (Original Application No. 490/2022) seeking issuance of appropriate directions to the respondents to ensure supply of potable and clean water to the residents of Zirakpur-Banur-Rajpura belt and to draw comprehensive plan to find out the root causes of contamination of water and suggest remedial measures.
The applicant has averred that due to supply of contaminated water, the residents of Zirakpur-Banur-Rajpura belt are suffering from various diseases like cholera, jaundice, typhoid, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration and skin-borne diseases. In support of the application, the applicant has placed on record copies of the newspaper reports.
In this Original Application No. 490/2022, the NGT had on 18 July 2023 directed the State of Punjab to replace contaminated water supply lines and ensure supply of potable water to residents of the Zirakpur-Banur-Rajpura belt within six months. More than 28 months have elapsed, yet residents continue to receive highly contaminated water.
Residents are compelled to purchase expensive bottled water and are suffering serious health complications because of the toxic municipal supply.
During today’s hearing in the Execution Application filed by Advocate Sunaina (appearing in person via video conferencing), a resident of Rajpura i.e Adv Mukesh Singla informed the Bench that the situation remains unchanged and people continue to fall sick.
The Tribunal expressed deep anguish at the ongoing blame game between Punjab Water Supply & Sewerage Board (Respondent No. 6) and Municipal Council Rajpura (Respondent No. 9), observing that lakhs of citizens are suffering because of this inter-departmental fight.
Despite more than two years having passed since the July 2023 order, no meaningful remediation has taken place.
Key directions issued by the NGT Bench comprising Hon’ble Mr. Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson) and Dr. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member):
a) Until the pipeline replacement work is completed, Municipal Councils of Rajpura, Banur and Zirakpur (Respondent Nos. 9, 10 & 11) shall immediately ensure daily supply of potable water through tankers in all affected areas.
b) Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab (Respondent No. 1) is directed to personally intervene, fix responsibility for the shocking delay and dereliction of duty, and initiate strict disciplinary/action against the officers/authorities responsible.
c) The Chief Secretary shall file a personal affidavit along with an Action Taken Report within 8 weeks.
d) Executive Officer, Municipal Council Rajpura and Director, Punjab Water Supply & Sewerage Board are directed to appear virtually on the next date of hearing — 02 February 2026.
Applicant Advocate Sunaina stated that “This is not just about safe drinking water — it is a question of the right to life of lakhs of citizens. The government gave a solemn undertaking before the Tribunal in 2023, yet deliberately violated it for over two years. We will continue this fight until each and every resident gets clean drinking water.”
