Shifting of Shahdara dhalao: NGT directs AAP's Ram Niwas Goel to assist EDMC

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has told the National Green Tribunal that a meeting with Shahdara MLA Ram Niwas Goel would be held for identifying a suitable site for shifting an existing 'dhalao' (garbage dump) near a school in the locality.

A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra Rathore directed the municipal corporation to place on record the details of the minutes of the meeting.

"The counsel for EDMC submits that another meeting of all the stakeholders as well as the MLA will be held regarding the alternative site etc before the next date of hearing.

"EDMC shall place on record the details of proceedings/ minutes of the meeting and the conclusion to which they have arrived at the said meeting," the bench said.

The matter will be heard next on May 22.

The tribunal had earlier asked the AAP leader to participate in the process and make serious efforts to find out a solution to the problem.

The order came on a letter written by Goel to the NGT against the increasing number of auto workshops in Jhilmil Colony in East Delhi resulting in enormous traffic congestion and air pollution in the area.

The AAP MLA had also sought shifting of the 'dhalao' located near Babu Ram school in Shahdara as heaps of garbage had accumulated at the dumping site posing a threat to the health of residents in the area.

"Heard the counsel for the parties. In respect of the question for dumping of garbage and a place for 'dhalao', counsel for EDMC along with officer present in court have informed us that an exercise with regard to change of place of 'dhalao' would be done so that the grievance that garbage being dumped near the school does not remain.

"However, in this exercise, we expect the public representative (local MLA) to also participate and make serious efforts to find out the solution to the aforesaid problem. The counsel for EDMC shall intimate the public representative, as and when a meeting in this regard is called for," the bench had said.

The order came after advocate Balendu Shekhar, appearing for the east civic body, said shifting of the existing dhalao was a complicated process and the corporation faces massive resistance from locals at the time of building dumps.

The lawyer had suggested to the bench that being the local MLA, Goel's participation will help arrive at a consensus solution.

During the hearing, advocate Kush Sharma, appearing for the Delhi Development Authority, had told the NGT that in entire EDMC jurisdiction, they have no piece of land for shifting the entire auto workshop which is operation at the site for last several decades.