Ensure no plastic waste is burnt in two villages:NGT to police

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today asked the Delhi Police to ensure that neither plastic waste is burnt nor carried in and out of Mundka and Nangloi villages in West Delhi.
"Police shall ensure that no plastic is burnt there (in Mundka and Nangloi) and that no plastic is carried or transported in or out of the area," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The bench also sought a response from the local plastic dealers as to why heavy costs be not imposed on them "for polluting the environment by burning plastic waste which is harmful to the health of the people."

The NGT also pulled up the police officer, who had inspected the area, for telling the bench that agricultural residue and not plastic is being burnt in these villages.
"Don't try to lie to us. Should we call your Commissioner here and tell him about your behaviour? You are the most irresponsible officer," Justice Kumar said.
The bench slammed the officer and the SHO of Police Station Mundka for not collecting samples of ash and soil to ascertain what was being burnt there.

"Agricultural waste is burnt in the fields. Why did you not take samples of the soil and ash to see what was being burnt?" the bench asked.

The NGT's strong remarks came after it went through a status report stating that plastic collection and burning are going on in the two villages.
On their part, the officer as well as the plastic dealers had maintained only agricultural waste was being burnt there.
Advocate Sudeep had submitted the report to the NGT and also filed photographs showing burning of plastic waste and its ash in the area.
The tribunal after perusing the photographs and status report observed that "it is clear that plastic and other waste is being collected and burnt there.