NGT SLAMS CIVIC BODIES, GOVT OVER WASTE MANAGEMENT

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday criticised the public authorities, including the state government and the local bodies, for failing to resolve the issue of waste management and instead creating hurdles in providing land for waste plants.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar directed the state’s chief secretary to hold a meeting with other agencies including the three civic bodies, Delhi Development Authority and the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (DSIIDC) within two weeks and come up with some alternative sites for setting up waste-to-energy plants.

The court also restrained the DDA, civic bodies and the DSIIDC from awarding work for commercial projects till they identified alternative landfill sites.

The bench observed that it was unfortunate that at a time when around 10,000 tonnes of solid waste was being generated every day and the existing sites were falling short to tackle such huge quantum of waste, the authorities were involved in “blame game” and showing an irresponsible attitude.

“While permissible height of the landfill sites is 20 metres, it (the Ghazipur dumping site) has reached height of 65 metres. The sites are being put to fire by methane generation or human intervention. The improper handling of municipal waste dumped at sites has resulted in the deaths of two people,” the bench said.

The tribunal, which is looking into the issue of alternative landfill sites, had earlier ordered inspection of land at Rani Khera.

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation’s counsel had, however, told the court that the site was not feasible as the civic body would require an additional fleet of more than 200 trucks and that the trucks would take nearly two hours to reach the Rani Khera site.

Another site Ghonda Gujran, which was under consideration, also received some opposition.