At least 605 private schools in the national capital may lose their recognition if they do not deposit Rs 5 lakh environmental compensation for failing to install rainwater harvesting system mandated by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), according to Delhi government officials.

The NGT had in 2017 directed all Delhi government and private schools as well as colleges to install rainwater harvesting systems in their premises within two months at their own cost. The green panel had stated that any institution that fails to install the rainwater harvesting system within the stipulated period shall be liable to pay environment compensation of Rs 5 lakh.

"Taking cognisance of the non-compliance of the earlier directions, 605 private schools were found defaulters of either not having rainwater harvesting system installed or having a yet to be made functional system," an official of the Directorate of Education (DoE) said. While the construction has not started at 331 private schools, the rainwater harvesting plants are yet to be made functional in 274 private schools in the city.

The NGT had asked the DoE in February this year to direct the default schools to deposit the compensation within two weeks. Most of the schools did not comply with the order. "We have issued final notices to the schools to deposit the compensation within three days. This shall be treated as a final opportunity, failing which further necessary action for withdrawal of recognition of concerned schools shall be taken without any further opportunity," the official said.

The NGT had earlier directed schools and colleges to approach a committee constituted by it for inspecting the premises and granting permission to institutions for operating the system. If it was not possible to install the rainwater harvesting system, the institution should have approached the committee, it had said.