Heaps of municipal solid waste can be seen in and around Hindon Canal at Vasundhara Enclave, Mayur Vihar Phase I, Dallu Pura Village and New Ashok Nagar, which have been developed by DDA without any plan for sanitation. Near the area, a police station has been constructed on the outlet of the drain obstructing its flow.
With government agencies shifting the onus, the National Green Tribunal has issued show cause notices to 45 societies in Vasundhara Enclave asking why they should not pay compensation under the ‘polluter pays principle’.
The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), under whose jurisdiction the area falls, has been directed to also issue notices to Residents Association of Mayur Vihar Phase- I, Dallu Pura Village and New Ashok Nagar on the similar lines on which Notice is being issued to the societies.
The NGT took note of the fact that there is massive collection of municipal solid waste around the Hindon Canal that falls in Vasundhara Enclave, Mayur Vihar Phase I, Dallu Pura Village and New Ashok Nagar and directed the EDMC to remove the same in a week.
The DDA has been asked why it has not provided outlet for the storm water which collects in the society and/or villages block.
EDMC informed that it has already removed 18 trucks of municipal solid waste and have deployed huge man power for the said purpose and the process is continuing
It also claimed that the waste is being thrown on the greater part of the area which belongs to PWD and as such they are expected to collect and dispose of municipal solid waste according to the Rules. The agency also stated that the canal is said to be belonging to the U.P. Irrigation Department and, therefore, they should take care.
It is to be noted that the colonies have been developed by DDA and handed over to EDMC for sanitary purpose only in June, 2015. Prior thereto, the DDA was responsible for proper collection and disposal of the waste.
“This is an admitted position, which clearly shows the serious dimensions of these environmental issues arising from the indiscriminate dumping of municipal solid waste and allied waste in and around the Hindon Canal. This is undisputedly causing water pollution and environmental degradation. This menace must be stopped,” the NGT said.
“...it is crystal clear that each Department shirks its responsibility, not only the one towards public but even the statutory obligation. On the one hand Authorities are failing to perform their functions and on the other hand there is indiscriminate dumping of waste by the people living in these areas. Primarily, in either case, it causes environmental degradation and water pollution in those areas,” the Tribunal said.
The NGT has now asked all agencies concerned to share the work and explore the possibility of erecting iron grills along the canal.
...it is crystal clear that each Department shirks its responsibility, not only the one towards public but even the statutory obligation
