Panel to implement plastic waste mgmt rules sleeping: HC

Delhi High Court today said the state level advisory panel to monitor implementation of plastic waste management rules appeared to be "sleeping" as it allegedly did nothing to ensure compliance of the rules.
A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar expressed frustration over "wasting of time" by the panel, saying the committee never held a second meeting to ensure compliance of directions given by it in the first meeting held on September 6.
"So much time is being wasted. It is frustrating for us. If the court can spend time on something it is not required to do, you (committee) will not spend time on a job you are required to do," the bench asked the lawyer representing the panel.

The court said the rules were excellent on paper but "what would happen when the body (which has to enforce the rules) goes to sleep?"
"How will we rein-in the unruly departments or local authorities if you (panel) yourself are sleeping," the bench asked after which the lawyer for the committee said a meeting would be held before the next date of hearing on November 9.
The court was hearing a PIL by Col (Retd) B B Sharan who has sought direction for maintaining cleanliness in Delhi.

Sharan, in a report filed today, told the bench that when he carried out surprise checks to see if safai karamchaaris were on the job, he found very few sweepers on the roads, particularly between 12pm to 3pm.

He also claimed in his report that even at the time of roll call at 5pm, only 50 per cent safai karamchaaris appeared.
Sharan also complained to the bench that the Assistant Commissioner of MCD of the area did not accompany him during the surprise checks despite orders of the court.
On hearing this, the bench directed the Assistant Commissioner to be present before the bench tomorrow to explain why he did not accompany Sharan.
Meanwhile, the panel informed the court that compensation of Rs one lakh has been given as interim relief to the family of an 8-year old boy, who lost his life by falling into an open sewage drain in the middle of a footpath in Shakurpur (North-West Delhi) in May this year.

The panel also said disciplinary action has been initiated against errant officials whose alleged negligence led to the drain being left open.
On the last date of hearing on September 1, the court had said if plastic waste was properly managed, half of the city's problems with regard to clogged drains and waterlogging will go away.