Scientist moves NGT seeking closure of Delhi Secretariat

A scientist today moved the National Green Tribunal seeking a direction to close down the Delhi Secretariat building on the ground that it violates mandatory pollution norms.

Mahendra Pandey, who was previously associated with the Central Pollution Control Board as a scientist, has alleged that the Secretariat building has not applied for Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 as well as under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.

Advocate Gaurav Bansal mentioned the matter before a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar who agreed to hear it tomorrow.

Claiming that the Secretariat building is one of the major sources that pollutes the Yamuna, the former scientist has said that it generates 1 lakh litres of sewage per day along with waste water which is untreated.

Pandey has said that the Delhi Secretariat building cannot operate unless it has "No Objection Certificate" under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

He has alleged that on one hand the Delhi government is introducing the "even-odd scheme" in order to reduce air pollution in the capital while its own secretariat building does not have statutory NOCs which shows its "dual character" and how serious it is on the issue of implementation of green laws.

"Stop the electricity supply to the Delhi Secretariat building as provided under Section 31 A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. "Direct the Delhi Jal Board to stop the water supply in the Delhi Secretariat building as provided under Section 33 A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974," the plea said while seeking imposition of "exemplary cost" on the Delhi Government as per the "polluter pays principle".