The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has refused to modify an earlier order where it had directed the Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) to contribute ₹10 crore for clearing landfill sites in the Capital.
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel had in July directed the Delhi government and the civic bodies to deposit ₹250 crore to an escrow account for a bioremediation and biomining project that is to be undertaken to deal with the Okhla, Ghazipur and Bhalswa landfill sites.
The green panel had directed the State government to deposit half the amount while the civic bodies were asked to contribute the rest.
Subsequently, the DCB approached the green panel seeking modification of the order while stating that the amount did not correspond to the amount of waste generated by it.
While refusing to modify the order and reduce the amount, the NGT Bench said, “Even though the liability of DCB may only be for Okhla dump site where garbage from Cantonment is dumped, it is appropriate that the DCB contributes such amount to the huge cost of removing garbage for better air quality of Delhi which is affected by other dump sites also.”
“Improvement of air quality will be for the benefit of all residents of Delhi, including the residents of the Delhi Cantonment area. We do not find any ground to modify the said order but DCB is free to interact with the Chief Secretary for any other appropriate arrangement,” the Bench said.
While referring to the July order, the Bench said, “We noted in the said order that the amount of contribution required from DCB may not be proportionate to its respective garbage generation but such direction was being issued on practical considerations and suggestions of the Chief Secretary, subject to dispute being separately settled.”
