Drawing flak from the National Green Tribunal over its failure to check waste burning, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has decided to adopt a ‘zero- tolerance’ policy on burning of leaves, plastic and garbage in open areas.
“No lenient view will now be taken regarding such incidents. We have decided to adopt a zero tolerance policy towards burning of leaves, plastic or garbage in open areas, and the officials have been instructed about the same,” a senior NDMC official said.
“Two teams have been constituted which conduct field inspections and keep a check on such incidents in order to curb air pollution,” he said.
Last month, the Tribunal had come down heavily on NDMC over its failure to check burning of nearly one tonne leaves in Lodhi Garden.
Imposing a complete ban on burning of wastes, including garbage, leaves, plastic and crop residues, in the open areas, NGT had said the violators will be fined Rs 5,000.
“The inspection team had last week caught a Meghalaya House staffer who was burning leaves. An FIR was registered against him and the said penalty was also imposed,” the official said.
NDMC donates Rs 1cr in PM Relief Fund for Nepal quake victims
Joining in the humanitarian efforts for quake-ravaged Nepal, NDMC has donated Rs one crore in the Prime Minister Relief Fund for rehabilitation work for the victims. “The amount is a part of NDMC staff’s one day salary towards the relief and rehabilitation work in Nepal,” the civic body said in a statement on Sunday.
A devastating earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale had hit Nepal on April 29 and over 150 aftershocks since then, claiming nearly 8,000 lives. In wake of the quake, that also hit parts of India including the national capital, NDMC has also intensified its monitoring process of illegal constructions and encroachments. “We are also in the process of identifying buildings which are in a dilapidated state and need to be renovated or modified to make them earthquake-proof,” an official said.