The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday restrained the Delhi Government, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and the Delhi Jal Board from releasing or storing any sewage or sludge in and around water bodies at Dhirpur, a village rich in wetlands.
The order of the NGT came on a petition alleging that the DMRC is spoiling the wetlands as its workers from nearby sites are using them for open defecation.
The order was passed by a bench of the NGT headed by its chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, who also sought replies from the bodies on a petition accusing them of spoiling the ecologically sensitive wetlands in the area.
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It also issued notice to the Delhi Police, which the petition said was turning a blind eye to the complaints in the matter.
The petition was file by Mahendra Pandey alleging that the “DMRC and the Delhi Jal Board have joined hands to damage the wetlands so that they can, in the end, be used for their projects”.
The petitioner’s counsel Gaurav Bansal said the wetlands in Dhirpur are shrinking at a fast pace due to the dumping of sludge by the tankers of the DJB, deposition of extra soil, etc.
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He also submitted that “the workers employed at the nearby DMRC site use the wetland / water body in question for open defecation as well as for dumping sewage and solid waste and as such the said wetland / water body is in serious threat.”
The petition asked the Government to evolve a sound management and conservation plan for their protection.
The wetlands at Dhirpur harbour various species of birds and wildlife.