New garbage dumps are being planned along the major drains in East Delhi to prevent trash from flowing into the Yamuna, which is being choked by pollutants.
The East Delhi Municipal Corporation has identified 37 sites along the drains to construct the dumps or dhalaos to dissuade people from throwing waste into the water. Each dump, to be built on an area of 10 metres by 15 metres, will cost the EDMC Rs.10 lakh to construct.
The EDMC had on May 20 asked the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, which owns the land, for no-objections for the project.
Unauthorised colonies
“There are unauthorised colonies that have come up along the drains where people throw household garbage straight into the drain. We want to give them an alternative,” said EDMC spokesperson Y.S. Mann.
The plan includes dhalaos along the Trunk, Karawal Nagar and Gazipur drains. A large part of East Delhi lives in unauthorised colonies where garbage collection by the municipal corporation is scant, if not non-existent.
Environmental activist and convenor of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan, Manoj Misra, said the plan was “welcome”.
“It’s a good idea if it is implemented and monitored properly. The dhalaos should not become sources of groundwater contamination, which can happen depending on their design and how often they are cleaned,” said Mr. Misra.
He added that the drains meant to carry storm water were being used to dump sewage or solid waste by local residents.
The EDMC’s plan, if implemented properly, could reduce pollution in the Yamuna, said Mr. Misra.
