Plea in NGT on pollution in East Delhi canal, Centre to reply

New Delhi: An environment activist alleging pollution in an East Delhi canal and failure of civic authorities to provide clean and healthy environment to the residents today led the NGT to seek replies from the Centre and the Delhi government.

A bench headed by NGT chief Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the Environment Ministry, Delhi government, Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and East Delhi Municipal Corporation and sought their responses.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the authorities to immediately remove waste from the canal and file a compliance report stating the methodology adopted for cleaning the canal.

The order came on the plea filed by environment activist Vikrant Tongad seeking immediate removal of municipal waste and plastic bags from the canal in Dallupura in East Delhi.

"The instant application highlights the sad plight of the drains/nallas on water drains which are completely choked with municipal waste and plastics which have been indiscriminately dumped in the drains clogging them and virtually turning them into mass dump yards.

"This is not only violative of the environmental laws including the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and the Rules made thereunder especially the Municipal Solid Waste Rules, Plastic Waste Management Rules but is great hazard to public health causing innumerable diseases among other hazards," the plea, filed through advocates Sanjay Upadhyay and Saliq Shafique, said.

Referring to media reports, the plea said the respondents have failed to discharge their constitutional and statutory obligation in relation to proper collection, handling, transportation and disposal of municipal solid waste.

"Indiscriminate dumping of solid waste in the natural water body not only pollutes the water body but also severely damages the ecology in the area. There are catena of judgments which conclude that such pollution causes injury to public health and is also violative of the environmental laws," it said.

The plea has also sought directions to form a committee to inspect all polluted water bodies in the city and submit a report including a time-bound action plan.