New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Friday faced the ire of the Supreme Court which made it clear that it will ensure implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules in the national capital even at the risk of being called “unfair”.
Justice Abhay S Oka, who was heading the bench which also comprised Justice Augustine George Masih, said he is used to allegations about being unfair for the last 21 years.
“We don’t get provoked by such allegations,” Justice Oka said, while hearing a matter related to solid waste management in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).
“We tell you very frankly. If somebody wants to say that we are being unfair, we will happily accept that allegation because I am used to such allegations for last 21 years. Even at the risk of that allegation, I will ensure that these laws are implemented,” Justice Oka told the lawyer appearing for the MCD.
“At least study the judges before you make such allegations that they are being unfair,” the bench observed.
The observations by the bench came after the MCD’s counsel said senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who is assisting the apex court as an amicus curiae in the matter, should be fair to them.
Singh told the bench that untreated solid waste in Delhi may lead to a public health emergency and the state government has emergency power to deal with the situation.
“I am not casting aspersions on any government. I am just saying it is time for every government to act,” the amicus said.
Over 3,000 tons of untreated solid waste per day in Delhi may lead to a “public health emergency”, the court said while voicing concern over poor implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules in the national capital. The apex court, which slammed the MCD over the “sorry state of affairs”, observed that the national capital generates over 11,000 tons of solid waste per day, while the daily capacity of processing plants made available by the corporation was only 8,073 tons.
It also dealt with the issue in Gurugram, Faridabad and Greater Noida.
“The only way of effective implementation of Solid Waste Management Rules is, pass drastic orders, no further development, no building permissions be granted,” the bench observed.
It directed the secretary of the Union environment ministry to convene a meeting of the officials of MCD and the Delhi government for working out an immediate solution to the problem.
The apex court also directed the secretary to call a meeting of the commissioners of municipal corporations of Gurugram and Faridabad, officers of the Greater Noida Development Authority and others to come out with solutions to deal with the crisis which could lead to a health emergency.
The bench posted the matter for further hearing on September 6. PTI ABA ABA SK SK
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