NGT pulls up senior Delhi,UP officials over mess on Yamuna banks

The tribunal also directed senior officials of several government agencies,responsible for the dumping of debris in the NCT of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh,to file affidavits before the NGT to clarify what steps are being taken to ensure that the river is not polluted by the dumping.

On January 31,the five-member tribunal had prohibited all persons,including government agencies,from dumping any debris,including solid waste,on the river bank or nearby water bodies.

Commissioners had been appointed by the court to conduct surprise checks on various areas to ensure that the prohibitory orders are being followed.

However,on the last date of hearing,the tribunal was informed that several sites near the river banks were still being used to dump debris and garbage.

The Director General,CPWD,Director of Horticulture (Central Govt),Director of Horticulture,(NDMC),Vice Chairman/Commissioner of DDA and the Commissioners of all the municipal corporations of Delhi,Chairman of Delhi Metro Corporation and Principal Secretary of Irrigation,Uttar Pradesh,have now been asked to “personally” file affidavits giving details of the methods and responsibility for the collection of debris and other wastes generated by their department.

They were also asked to give details of waste treatment methods,and the sites identified for dumping the waste materials to the NGT within three weeks.

The NGT in January had also ordered for the creation of a high-powered committee,including the Ministry of Environment and Forests Secretary and MoEF Additional Secretary,besides other senior officials to look into the issue and identify sites for relocation of debris after removal from the river bed.

The committee has now been directed to file a report within one month as to “how and in what manner the banks of river Yamuna can be developed rather than making it mere garbage dumping site”.

The committee has also been asked to create a complete proposal for “development,beautification and uplitftment of Yamuna river bank in terms of horticulture and eco-friendly site free from pollution” within five weeks.

The proposal is to be presented before the court on the next date of hearing on April 28.