India, Dec. 29 -- The Delhi government has initiated an enquiry into illegal groundwater extraction in Paharganj since over a decade, the Delhi chief secretary told the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The chief secretary also said that they are in the process of identifying the officials who allowed the activity citing a voluntary disclosure scheme (VDS), which was never officially notified.

The chief secretary, in an affidavit, said multiple meetings have been held on this issue recently and the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been sharing data of officials working in the Paharganj zone since 2014. Six weeks' time has been sought to submit the report with names of officials found responsible, damage to the exchequer, and the quantum of water e...