NGT wants undertaking on completion of waste processing plant

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has directed that a waste processing plant on Bawana-Narela road here be completed and operationalised within two years and sought an undertaking from Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corp Ltd (DSIIDC) in this regard.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked MD of DSIIDC to file an undertaking stating that the entire project relating to Treatment Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) for hazardous waste would be completed within two years.

On May 13, North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) had handed over 14 acres of land for setting up the plant for hazardous wastes to DSIIDC.

Earlier, the bench had directed the Chief Secretary of Delhi government to hold a meeting along with Vice-Chairman of DDA, Commissioners of North Municipal Corporation and others to identify the site for dumping of hazardous waste.

The green bench had said that it was a "matter of not only concern but of a great surprise that the capital city of our country does not even have the TSDF for hazardous waste".

"It is not only the statutory obligation of the NCT of Delhi to ensure establishment of such a site but to provide complete methodology as well for collection, transportation and disposal of the hazardous waste which will be entirely environmentally compatible," the bench had said.

The Tribunal was hearing a plea of Balam Singh Rawat who had challenged the setting up of a hazardous waste disposal unit in Mundka village in west Delhi allegedly without environment clearance.