The National Green Tribunal has taken suo motu cognizance of increasing accumulation of waste in Delhi, specifically highlighting the emergence of new waste mounds in areas like Singhola and near Bawana.
The Original Application is registered suo-motu on the basis of the news item dated November 4, 2024.
As per the article, after efforts lasting more than five years, some progress can be seen at Okhla, Bhalswa and Ghazipur but the emergence of new waste mounds is a major cause of concern and points to a larger problem of systemic inadequacy in the management of waste production.
The news item highlights that near JJ colony in Bawana, the emerging waste mountain adjoining the Narela-Bawana waste-to-energy plant is now almost as tall as the 13-storey residential buildings in the area. Furthermore, around 8 km away, near Singhola village towards GT Karnal Road, is a seven acre plot that was used to dump silt.
The article alleges that both sites are now visible from at least 2-3 kms away.
It is stated that the Singhola site has started to face space constraints with no area left for further deposit of silts. A 2023 Municipal Corporation of Delhi report alleges that the site cannot be raised vertically further and that more dumping may cause sliding or slipping of silt towards adjoining areas.
The article highlights that the site was used to dump silt collected during the annual pre-monsoon desilting exercise in Delhi’s drainage system. However, it has accumulated 900,000 tonnes of silt mixed with plastic, waste and construction and demolition waste. Furthermore, the saturation of the Singhola site has led to silt being diverted to the Bhalswa landfill, and the dumping of fresh waste has hindered the progress made there.
Similarly, the news item discusses the waste mound at Bawana, located near the Narela-Bawana Waste to Energy (WtE) plant and just 700 meters from the Munak CLC canal which has become a significant environmental and public health concern in Delhi. Spanning approximately 24 acres, this massive heap of waste is rapidly growing and towers near the 13-storey DDA buildings in the area. It consists mainly of rejects, inerts, and waste unsuitable for the plant’s boilers. Residents in nearby areas have expressed concerns about the unpleasant odour and the mound’s negative impact on property values, with many flats remaining unsold due to the undesirable environment.
The news item alleges that North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) had conceived a plan to build a modern landfill and a 24MW WtE plant at Narela to process 4,000 tonnes of solid waste per day. Despite delays caused by disputes between the developers and the NDMC, the project was finally commissioned in March 2017. The WtE plant is intended to generate electricity by burning refuse-derived fuel (RDF) produced by segregating waste collected from residential areas like Rohini. However, local residents disagree with the effectiveness of the system, citing that the waste mound continues to grow despite the plant’s operation. Many believe the mound is contributing to the unsold housing flats in the area due to the stench and general unpleasantness.
The Principal Bench, comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, and Dr A Senthil Vel, Expert Member has observed that the matter indicates a violation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016; Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
The Tribunal has impleaded the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the Central Pollution Control Board, and the District Magistrate, North West Delhi, as respondents in the matter.
The NGT has directed the respondents to file their responses/replies by way of affidavit one week before the next date of hearing.
The Tribunal has listed the matter for hearing on March 10, 2025.
The post appeared first on .
The Original Application is registered suo-motu on the basis of the news item dated November 4, 2024.
As per the article, after efforts lasting more than five years, some progress can be seen at Okhla, Bhalswa and Ghazipur but the emergence of new waste mounds is a major cause of concern and points to a larger problem of systemic inadequacy in the management of waste production.
The news item highlights that near JJ colony in Bawana, the emerging waste mountain adjoining the Narela-Bawana waste-to-energy plant is now almost as tall as the 13-storey residential buildings in the area. Furthermore, around 8 km away, near Singhola village towards GT Karnal Road, is a seven acre plot that was used to dump silt.
The article alleges that both sites are now visible from at least 2-3 kms away.
It is stated that the Singhola site has started to face space constraints with no area left for further deposit of silts. A 2023 Municipal Corporation of Delhi report alleges that the site cannot be raised vertically further and that more dumping may cause sliding or slipping of silt towards adjoining areas.
The article highlights that the site was used to dump silt collected during the annual pre-monsoon desilting exercise in Delhi’s drainage system. However, it has accumulated 900,000 tonnes of silt mixed with plastic, waste and construction and demolition waste. Furthermore, the saturation of the Singhola site has led to silt being diverted to the Bhalswa landfill, and the dumping of fresh waste has hindered the progress made there.
Similarly, the news item discusses the waste mound at Bawana, located near the Narela-Bawana Waste to Energy (WtE) plant and just 700 meters from the Munak CLC canal which has become a significant environmental and public health concern in Delhi. Spanning approximately 24 acres, this massive heap of waste is rapidly growing and towers near the 13-storey DDA buildings in the area. It consists mainly of rejects, inerts, and waste unsuitable for the plant’s boilers. Residents in nearby areas have expressed concerns about the unpleasant odour and the mound’s negative impact on property values, with many flats remaining unsold due to the undesirable environment.
The news item alleges that North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) had conceived a plan to build a modern landfill and a 24MW WtE plant at Narela to process 4,000 tonnes of solid waste per day. Despite delays caused by disputes between the developers and the NDMC, the project was finally commissioned in March 2017. The WtE plant is intended to generate electricity by burning refuse-derived fuel (RDF) produced by segregating waste collected from residential areas like Rohini. However, local residents disagree with the effectiveness of the system, citing that the waste mound continues to grow despite the plant’s operation. Many believe the mound is contributing to the unsold housing flats in the area due to the stench and general unpleasantness.
The Principal Bench, comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, and Dr A Senthil Vel, Expert Member has observed that the matter indicates a violation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016; Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
The Tribunal has impleaded the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the Central Pollution Control Board, and the District Magistrate, North West Delhi, as respondents in the matter.
The NGT has directed the respondents to file their responses/replies by way of affidavit one week before the next date of hearing.
The Tribunal has listed the matter for hearing on March 10, 2025.
The post appeared first on .