The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday constituted a joint committee to look into a plea raising allegations of improper green capping of landfill sites in the Capital by civic bodies.
A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel constituted a committee comprising a former NGT expert member and officials from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Bench directed the committee to submit a report within three weeks.
The plea moved by the Centre for Wildlife and Environment Litigation (CWEL) contended that the procedure of green capping undertaken by civic bodies are not in consonance with relevant solid waste management rules.
Stating that the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and civic bodies are in violation of rules pertaining to rehabilitation of dumping sites in the national capital, the plea sought directions for a status quo on the green capping of the Bhalswa landfill site.
Water contamination
“The North Delhi Municipal Corporation, at the time of deciding adoption of green capping process has failed to realise that the said process will lead to contamination of groundwater in the national capital, as the said process has failed to address the issue of leachate process,” the plea contended.
Stating that approximately 5% of the Bhalswa landfill site consists of hazardous waste, the plea added that green capping of the said area will be in violation of rules which state that “no person shall handle any hazardous waste except in accordance with such procedure and after complying with such safeguards as may be prescribed”.
