Dismounting the mountains of garbage, SC directs LG Governor to deal with solid waste in New Delhi

New Delhi, August 18: ‘Cleanliness leads to Godliness’, taking forward the legacy of creating awareness about having a clean environment, the central government has put in great efforts through its initiatives. Adding up to the need to create cleanliness, the problem of solid waste in Delhi is "very critical" and the cooperation of citizens was needed to deal with it, the Supreme Court today said and asked the Lieutenant Governor (LG) to set up an experts committee to look into it.

 

Asserting the need for the committee to look in the depth of the matter, the Supreme Court said that the state deals with an "in-depth" into all aspects relating to management of solid waste, including cleaning up of landfill sites at Ghazipur, Okhla and Bhalswa, as the situation in Delhi was "very critical.”

The bench, which also comprised Justices S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta, said the panel should consist of experts, members of civil societies and resident welfare associations (RWAs). The court observed that as the issue was of considerable importance, the authorities should "not rush into taking a decision", but analyse all aspects so that the problem of solid waste management in Delhi is taken care of to the satisfaction of all, particularly the residents.

The bench said the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has filed an affidavit in which they have spoken about funds, while the SDMC has said in some areas; they already have started segregating the waste. The issue of waste management had cropped up when the court was dealing with a tragic matter of 2015 in which it had taken cognisance of the death of a seven-year-old boy due to dengue. The victim had been allegedly denied treatment by five private hospitals here and his distraught parents had subsequently committed suicide.

The apex court had earlier said that Delhi was facing an "emergency situation" due to the mountains of garbage.