NGT notice to Centre, Delhi govt over sanitation crisis in E Delhi

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday took authorities to task for sanitation services in East Delhi coming to a standstill and sought the response from the Centre, the Delhi government and recognised workers’ union over employees’ strike due to non-payment of salary.

A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the Environment Ministry, the Ministry of Urban Development, the AAP government and sanitation workers’ union asking them what steps have been taken to remove waste from the streets and to apprise it about reasons of a deadlock on the issue. 

The direction came after advocate Balendu Shekhar, appearing for the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), told the bench that urgent directions were needed as EDMC employees were on indefinite strike since January 5 due to non-payment of salary. He also sought the Tribunal’s intervention to end the deadlock.

Meanwhile, asking the EDMC to ensure that removal of garbage dumped on roads by the employees, who have struck work due to non-payment of salaries, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday also issued notice to the civic body and city government.

A division Bench of Justices Indira Bannerjee and Justice Anil Kumar Chawla sought response from EDMC and Delhi government by March 1 on a plea seeking direction that Corporation employees to end their strike. The plea has sought direction that the Delhi government and the civic body should immediately release salaries to sanitation workers who went on strike from January 5, as piles of muck taken out of drains and garbage was dumped on city roads.