HC slams civic authorities over Yamuna pollution

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday slammed civic authorities for failure to construct special permanent enclosures on the banks of River Yamuna for immersion of idols and other items during festivals.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday slammed civic authorities for failure to construct special permanent enclosures on the banks of River Yamuna for immersion of idols and other items during festivals.

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Petitioner VK Jain of NGO Tapas told the court that despite the court’s 2006 order and also the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) undertaking to the court in 2009 for the construction of 13 special permanent enclosures, only four temporary enclosures have come up so far.

Justice GP Mittal said if the government and the MCD do not give an assurance by August 29, the court will summon the environment secretary.

The court has also sought an explanation from the Delhi government, DDA and MCD as to why contempt of court proceedings shouldn’t be initiated against them for not complying with court orders.

The petitioner alleged that nothing was being done despite an order, given five years ago, to take steps to ensure that Yamuna is free of garbage and isn’t turned into a drain, especially during the festive season, when idols are immersed and huge quantities of flowers and other puja items thrown into the river.

Jain said people continued to throw waste through the gaps in the grille on both sides of bridges and no action was being taken to prevent it.