Debris continues to sit on the Yamuna floodplains at Geeta Colony and Yamuna Bank metro station, say reports filed by local commissioners appointed by the National Green Tribunal. They observed that the debris near the Geeta Colony was going to be pushed into the water body.
A number of breaches were observed in the protective walls, and the police and guards were not found to be on duty at the entry points.
The reports have also stated that dumping takes place in Jamia Nagar, Jaitpur, Batla House and Khijrabad during night hours. However, substantial work of debris removal has been carried out by authorities there. “We record our appreciation for the work done by the respective public authorities in removal of debris,” said a bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar on Tuesday.
The Tribunal was hearing a petition filed by Manoj Misra of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, who has opposed the dumping of debris and construction waste on the river banks.
The bench also directed the Ministry of Environment and Forest to speed up the filing of the report on development and beautification of the river banks. “…The plan for restoration, preservation and beautification is to be carried out within a time frame to be prescribed by the Tribunal,” the order stated.
The matter is listed for hearing on October 28.
PTI adds:
The NGT bench also said: “We direct all authorities concerned, particularly the DDA, the U.P. Irrigation Department, the Delhi Irrigation Department, to ensure this debris is removed positively before the next date of hearing.”
