E-Paper
Will clean plastic waste on ridge: Delhi govt to high court
New Delhi:
New Delhi:
The Delhi government has assured the Delhi High Court that it would clean truckloads of plastic waste thrown by hawkers in the Central Ridge. The waste, according to a report by the court commissioners, is threatening the growth of saplings in plantations in the forested area.
Justice Nazmi Waziri directed the government to either source or procure 100 truckloads of hay for mulching around the plantations to ensure the survival and longevity of the saplings. It said mulching is an essential exercise “without which the top soil will not retain water for long and young trees will be susceptible to attrition”.
Mulching is a widely practised gardening technique beneficial for plants when done properly. It is the act of covering the soil with mulches such as bark, wood chips, leaves, and other organic material, in order to preserve moisture and improve the condition of the soil.
Justice Waziri of the Delhi High Court, in separate cases over the past few months, had asked litigants to plant saplings in the Central Ridge, as compensation or penalty, and asked the forest department to ensure compliance.
On September 19, additional standing counsel for the Delhi government Gautam Narayan told Justice Najmi Waziri that the health of the trees was of “paramount” importance.
The submission came after court commissioners M A Niyazi and Sumeet Pushkarna said that on an average, one truckload of plastic waste could be found every 100 metres all over the Central Ridge.
“These are mostly (dumped) by hawkers selling cold drinks, water, chips and other beverages sitting outside the boundary walls at a distance of every 100 metres all around the ridge. The plastic waste is spread within 4-5 feet inside the ridge adjoining the boundary walls. The MCD, police station concerned and the forest department may be directed to take immediate steps for removal and prevention of further accumulation of the plastic waste,” the inspection report said.
The court then said, “The additional standing counsel submits that the same shall be looked into in right earnest and all the waste shall be disposed of within four weeks, as per the applicable by-laws. Upon instructions from the DCF concerned, he states that the health of the trees is of paramount importance and they shall be duly taken care of,” the court said in his September 19 order.
The government told the court that it is in the process of creating adequate water storage facilities in the next six weeks. Arrangements would be made to fill the troughs in the forest area and the water would be sourced from nearly ponds and other water bodies, it said.
Rahul Mehra, standing counsel of the Delhi government (criminal), told the court that the government would encourage school children and citizens to visit the forest area to appreciate nature and make them aware of the need to maintain and nurture green areas.
Narayan told the court they would actively strew the earth near plantations with hay and straw procured from neighbouring states. This will mitigate, if not prevent stubble burning, which suffocates Delhi during winter, Narayan said.
