To reduce food waste, govt may limit guests at weddings
NEWDELHI: The Delhi government is contemplating a policy to “limit” the number of guests at weddings and institutionalise catering arrangements so that food served at such “extravagant” functions is not wasted, the Supreme Court was told on Tuesday.
The submission was made before a bench led by Justice MB Lokur by Delhi chief secretary Vijay Kumar Dev, who said he has had a meeting with the lieutenant-governor on the matter and a comprehensive policy was under formulation to tackle traffic congestion and wastage of food at such functions.
There is consensus between the view of the Delhi government and the L-G in this regard, he said.
Dev said the government was seriously considering the issues the court had flagged in its December 6 order, one of which was misuse of water in weddings. He said the government was thinking on the same lines and the 2007 policy on farmhouses would be revised with a holistic approach.
“We need to strike a balance and keep in mind the interest of the people of Delhi,” he told the court.
“It is stated (by chief secretary) that some alternatives are being discussed and there appears to be at least two options that are available and two-pronged strategy is also being actively considered so that availability of food in func- tions and the number of guests is limited, and the quality of food is maintained,” the bench, comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Hemant Gupta, recorded in its order.
“We can have guest control on the one hand and regulation under the Food Safety and Standards Act, where institutional arrangements can be made between caterers and NGOS, who provide food to destitutes,” Dev said.
According to Dev, reports sug- gest excess food in weddings either goes waste or is used by the caterers in subsequent ceremonies. Dev said another area of concern was the treatment of waste water.
“This is a serious issue, leading to environmental degradation,” he said.
The court told the chief secretary to come out with a policy in this regard within six weeks. “We grant time till January 31, 2019, to enable the L-G and the chief secretary to formulate a policy and to ensure its strict implementation in the larger public interest, including the interest of the people of Delhi,” said the bench.
The chief secretary said the policy would also take into consideration the aspect of management of motels and farm houses in and around Delhi.
THE COURT TOLD THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO COME OUT WITH A POLICY IN THIS REGARD WITHIN SIX WEEKS