‘State of Environment’ report to be published next year: Govt

Delhi will be publishing its first ‘State of Environment Report’ next year. The report will have data on all key areas, including sewage, water quality, waste collection, segregation, etc., put together succinctly. The government is also likely to give funds to municipal corporations for the first time for the management of road dust and potholes and to prevent open waste burning.

“The multiplicity of departments in Delhi impedes problem resolution. Had it been Nagpur or Mumbai or Chennai, it would have been easier.

So, the objective is to fix accountability of the concerned departments,” a senior official said.

The environment department is in the process of floating a tender to hire an agency to collect data from all the concerned departments, including municipal corporations, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, irrigation and flood control department, and forest and wildlife department, and prepare the report.

“Municipal corporations will provide data related to waste generation, segregation, battery operated vehicles, etc. The Delhi Jal Board will furnish data related to water quality, sewage treatment, sewer network, etc. The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board will give information about the jhuggi-jhopri colonies,” the official said.

“The compilation work should begin in February and will be completed by the end of March. This will be the first time we will be preparing such a holistic report,” he added.

The environment department will also give some of the funds received from the Centre under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to the MCDs for the management of road dust and potholes and to prevent open waste burning.