Delhi govt misses Yamuna debris removal deadline

Despite repeated orders by the National Green Tribunal, dumping of debris continues on the Yamuna riverbed.

Despite repeated orders by the National Green Tribunal, dumping of debris continues on the Yamuna riverbed.

HT Image

The Delhi Development Authority has also missed the August 15 deadline to ensure that all government agencies remove debris from the area.

Independent experts appointed by the tribunal on Tuesday said that debris had not been removed in Geeta Colony and near the Yamuna Bank Metro station. They said: “The debris is intended to be pushed into the river rather than being removed.”

The tribunal ordered the DDA and other government agencies to remove all the debris from the riverbed by October 28, when the matter is heard next.

The green watchdog issued notices to the Delhi police commissioner and the director general of police (Uttar Pradesh) when experts pointed out that policemen were not guarding the entries to the riverbed.

They also pointed out that there were a number of breaches in protective walls near the riverbed.

The experts said dumping continued in Jamia Nagar, Jaitpur, Batla House and Khijrabad during night hours. The tribunal reiterated its July 22 order that those responsible for fresh dumping of debris on the riverbed will be fined Rs 5 lakh.

The fine would be recovered from those responsible for dumping.

Truck owners, property owners and contractors, who dispose of debris, are liable to be fined.

The tribunal on Tuesday said that the union ministry of environment and forests had formed a committee for restoration, preservation and beautification of the entire riverbank in Delhi.

“The committee will file a report to suggest a methodology for the task and the state, which should execute the work and in what manner.

Let a report be submitted by October 28. The committee has to keep in mind that the plan is to be carried out within a timeframe to be decided by the tribunal,” the NGT said.