The Supreme Court of India has reprimanded municipal officials in Delhi over their failure to properly manage the city’s waste as per legal requirements. During the proceedings, the bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuiyan, expressed their displeasure, highlighting the significance of effective waste disposal for the national capital and insisting that it should not be mired in political conflicts.
Previously, the court was alarmed to discover that out of the 11,000 tons of solid waste generated daily in Delhi, about 3,000 tons are not disposed of in compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Despite these rules being in place for over eight years, their implementation remains incomplete, posing severe implications for the city’s environmental health.
The Supreme Court noted that the findings of the Air Quality Management Commission (CAQM) in the Delhi-NCR region underscored the gravity of the situation. The CAQM report revealed that only 8,000 tons of the daily waste are processed, leaving a significant amount untreated, which contributes to the ongoing pollution crisis.
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In response to these findings, the court issued notices to Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and Delhi Cantonment Board, demanding explanations for this lapse. The case is set to be heard again soon, as the court seeks to address this critical issue comprehensively.
