AAP moves NGT against allotment of landfill sites in Delhi

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeking cancellation of allotment of two landfill sites in the city by a Central government-controlled body to a civic body ruled by the BJP.

Addressing the media, AAP leader Dilip Pandey said the party would also launch a signature campaign "Remove Mountain of Garbage" in areas which would be affected by the landfills to cancel their allotments.

Last week, in-principal approval was given for allotment of land for the two landfill sites in Sonia Vihar and Ghonda Gujran in the city.

The approval was given by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which is under the ambit of the Union government, to the Bharatiya Janata Party-controlled East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC).

The petition filed by the AAP also urged the NGT to "direct the respondent authorities (DDA and EDMC, among others) not to disturb environment in these area/areas".

Pandey alleged that the landfill sites were allotted in a residential area and it was against the welfare of the people.

"People in the area would get diseases due to gases from the landfill," the AAP leader said.

Ever since the Ghazipur landfill site emerged in the city, cases of lung and skin cancer had gone up in its vicinity, he said.

"In every shanty in the area, there is someone who is paralysed," the leader said.

--IANS

nkh/nir/mr