MCDs regularly taking steps to manage landfill sites: LG to SC

NEW DELHI: Corporations are taking steps to manage Delhi's three landfill sites, namely Okhla, Ghazipur and Bhalswa, using modern technologies, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's office told the Supreme Court on Monday.

"Immediately after assuming office, the LG visited the Bhalswa, Okhla and Ghazipur landfill sites and construction and demolition (C&D) waste plants at Burari and Shastri Park," an affidavit filed on the LG's behalf stated.

"In his first review meeting in January 2017, he directed all three Corporations to augment capacities of waste-to-energy plants for scientific disposal of current waste, to reduce waste disposal at landfill sites and simultaneously took decisions to tackle the problem of legacy mounds in a comprehensive, safe and scientific manner," Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, representing Baijal, told the apex court.

She added that on Baijal's advice, in September last year, a Scientific Advisory Committee comprising of high-level experts from premier institutes of the country such as IITs, CSIR and TERI was constituted by the Department of Science and Technology.

As a result of Baijal's 27 review meetings with all stakeholders and eight site visits since January 2017, the Corporations chalked out detailed plans and took steps to manage the 34 million metric tonnes of garbage, in the form of 'legacy' mounds, and for the closure of the sanitary landfill sites, Anand told the court.

However, the apex court bench, after perusing the photographs of the work done at the landfill sites, expressed unhappiness and said that it seems that mud has been splattered all around.