Burning of waste: NGT slaps fine of Rs 50,000 on EDMC

Irked at non-compliance of its order on burning of waste, the National Green Tribunal today imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) for indiscriminate dumping and burning of municipal solid waste in East Delhi.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed EDMC to deposit the environmental compensation with Delhi Pollution Control Committee for violating the orders of the tribunal.
The tribunal also asked the Commissioner of EDMC to conduct an enquiry into the matter and take appropriate action against the erring officials.
The bench, which stopped short of imposing fine of Rs 25,000 each on Public Works Department (PWD) and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, issued notice to them for failing to keep a check on the waste burning in the open.

During the hearing, advocate Balendu Shekhar, appearing for EDMC, told the tribunal that the corporation has written 12 letters to PWD to control the menace of garbage dumping but till date they have not taken any action.
The tribunal had yesterday pulled EDMC and other civic authorities and directed them to produce all the records before it.

Earlier, it had asked officers concerned of all the departments to be present in person before the tribunal and show cause why environmental compensation be not imposed on all the respondents concerned as well as not punish the officers concerned including the heads of the organisations for violating the orders of the tribunal.

The green panel's direction came while hearing a plea of East Delhi resident Mansi Chahal who stated that the New Seemapuri road no 70 is full of garbage, polythene and solid waste.
"The applicant has also found that plastic is burnt in this garbage which leads to emission of various dangerous gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide etc which gives rise to air-borne diseases."
"EDMC van is regularly throwing the garbage in the middle of the road despite many protests by the residents," the plea said, adding that heavy penalty must be imposed on EDMC.
Imposing a complete ban on burning of waste Delhi-NCR including garbage, leaves, plastic and crop residues, the tribunal had announced a fine of Rs 5,000.