MCD in trouble over poor waste disposal

Taking a serious view of the worsening state of solid waste management in the city, the Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a contempt of court notice to Anil Prakash, Director of the Sanitation Wing of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

Reminding the civic agency about the fast-approaching Commonwealth Games, a Bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul told the civic agency: “In the name of

the event, you exercise your right everywhere but it seems you have completely forgotten your duties.”

The official is to respond to the notice on August 27.

The court’s action came after the latest (April 15) report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which portrayed a dismal picture and showed deterioration in the handling of solid waste by MCD.

The CPCB conducted a survey of 1,676 waste receptacles including dhalaus, dustbins and waste collection trolleys across 12 zones of MCD and two circles of North and East Delhi between January 6 and March 23, 2010.

As per their 40th report, 47 per cent of them were found in unsanitary condition, while 27 per cent were in a dilapidated condition.

The court noted that the condition of the waste receptacles had worsened, as in their 39th report eight months ago, the figures were 36 per cent and 23 per cent respectively.

The panel also noted that there was a 13 per cent increase in the presence of stray animals near dhalaus.

The CPCB said the situation was much better in the 640 waste collection centres of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) that they inspected.

Although the MCD assured the court on March 5 that the situation had improved after it took effective measures, the court clearly told the MCD that it would issue a contempt notice if the latest CPCB found the claim to be false.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by lawyer Ashok Aggarwal, bringing to its attention poor sanitary conditions in the Capital.