New Delhi, Jan. 26 -- The Delhi government has informed the National Green Tribunal that it has assessed an environmental damage compensation (EDC) of Rs.22.46 crore against 536 hotels and guest houses in Paharganj for illegally extracting groundwater over 11 years. Of this amount, Rs.4.36 crore has already been recovered, while steps are underway to realise the remaining dues, the government said in an affidavit.

The affidavit, dated January 6 but uploaded recently, also states that the illegal extraction resulted in a loss of approximately Rs.11 crore to the public exchequer. The submission, filed through the Delhi chief secretary, further proposes disciplinary proceedings against nine superintending engineers and executive engineers p...