Mid-air emptying of toilet tanks: NGT raps DGCA for ‘defiance’

Tribunal raps DGCA for repeatedly defying its orders; warns agency’s DG his salary can be stopped

The NGT has given the DGCA time till August 31 to issue a circular to airlines.

Coming down heavily on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for “repeated defiance” of its orders, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the agency to issue circulars to all airlines to ensure that toilet tanks are not emptied mid-air near the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.

Observing that the DGCA had not complied with orders passed in December 2016, the Bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel, said: “Since there is repeated defiance by the DGCA with absolutely no acceptable explanation, we have no option but to direct the DGCA to comply with the directions already issued.”

Directing the DGCA to comply with the orders by August 31, the Bench said: “If the same is not done, we may have to direct that salary of the Director General (DG), Civil Aviation, who is said to be the person responsible for compliance of this direction, will be stopped till the order of the Tribunal is complied with.”

‘Considering prosecution’

“On account of continued defiance, we may also have to consider prosecution of the DG on the next date. If the order remains not complied with, the DG may be required to be present in person,” the Bench warned.

The directions came while the green panel was hearing a plea moved by city resident Lt. Gen. Satwant Singh Dahiya, who had alleged that aircraft were emptying toilet tanks mid-air as a result of which houses in the neighbourhood were being damaged by faeces.

Contending the plea, the DGCA had sought a review of the December 2016 order passed by the Tribunal.

It had also claimed that it was not possible to dump human waste mid-air. Further, the agency said that the orders had not been complied with because of the pending adjudication of the review plea.

Following the allegations in the plea, the green panel in 2016 had said: “The DGCA shall issue a circular to all the airlines landing and taking off at IGI’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 to ensure that they do not have any reason to release any waste while landing or taking off at the airport, or near the airport.”