New Delhi: Amid the ongoing agitation and dumping of garbage by sanitation workers of cash-strapped East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), the National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi government and employees of the body to ensure that no waste is thrown on city roads.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, which took the matter on oral mentioning, issued notice to the Arvind Kejriwal government and directed it ensure that there is no garbage on the roads as "it is bound to cause serious health hazards and adverse environmental impacts".
"We direct the respondents particularly the corporations, namely, North Delhi Municipal Corporation and EDMC to ensure that no garbage or MSW (municipal solid waste) is thrown on any of the roads of Delhi. The garbage that has already been thrown on inter-section of the roads or other roads of the city should be got collected immediately and taken to the MSW identified sites."
"There is statutory as well as public law obligation on the government of NCT, Delhi as well corporations to carry out their statutory and public law obligation and provide clean environment to the residents of Delhi," the bench said.
The tribunal restrained any employee of the corporations or any other person from throwing any garbage on the roads of Delhi.
The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by advocate Saurabh Sharma seeking complete ban on scattering of garbage on the road by the employees of municipal corporation or any citizen of Delhi. "In last few days the municipal authorities especially EDMC and NDMC have completely failed to observe their duties and the purposes for which these municipal corporations were incorporated.
"The recent activity of scattering of heaps of garbage, filth, excreta on the roads on the roads of Delhi, is adversely affecting the ecosystem and the overall ecology of the surrounding areas," the plea said.
Sharma, in his plea, contended that littering of garbage on roads by employees, besides causing high risk of diseases, is also a cause of many road accidents as many vehicles are skidding on the roads.
Demanding release of salaries, several sanitation workers of EDMC have gone on strike called by the Delhi Pradesh Safai Karmachari Union. The stir has led to heaps of garbage left strewn in the streets in east Delhi.
EDMC employs over 12,000 safai karmacharis, both in regular and contractual capacities.
