Monitoring of waste burning at landfills to be expedited

NEW DELHI: With the festive season about to begin, the Environment department of Delhi government will fast-track the monitoring of burning of waste at landfills.

After studying the air quality in the city, Delhi Environment minister Imran Hussain directed officials to undertake constant monitoring.

Keeping in mind the chances of pollution explosion after Diwali, the government will deal the issue in accordance with guidelines issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The minister had on Wednesday chaired a meeting with officials of his department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, where the issue of waste burning was the prime focus.

According to the government sources, Hussain has directed officials to deal the matter in such a way that the air quality levels stay in control.

Officers told Hussain that the Ambient Air Quality this year has been better than what it was last year during the same period, especially with respect to particulate matter.

The minister was also informed that work for strengthening of the Ambient Air Quality Network is at an advanced stage and that new systems will be functional by the end of October at 20 more locations in the city.

Sources said that the government will monitor the landfill sites regularly and also take necessary steps if they find people burning the wastes.

Earlier, the NGT has issued guidelines to tackle the issue and also asked for punishment with fines on people involved in waste burning. The government also found that the directions of the green court were mostly violated in the city. The Delhi government is also likely to discuss this matter with the concerned civic agencies.

Earlier, NGT had imposed a complete ban on burning of waste in open places and announced a fine of Rs 25,000 on each incident of bulk waste burning.

It asserted that for each such incident, violators, including project proponent, concessionaire, any person or body responsible for such burning, shall be liable to pay environmental compensation of Rs 5,000 in case of simple burning, and Rs 25,000 in case of bulk waste burning.