The Delhi High Court on Monday rapped the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for delaying the road repair work in the southern zone of the capital. The court came down heavily on the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) too, for negligence in cleaning the open drains in the zone.
Justice SK Kaul, in a final warning, told both the bodies that they needed to pull up their socks and finish the long pending task by July 1, failing to which they will face contempt of court proceedings.
The court ordered the DJB and MCD to get to work and sort the issues faced by the residents of not only South Extension, but entire South Delhi.
In an application, the South Extension Residents Welfare Association (RWA) complained about the open drains in the area, which was hazardous to the residents, and also mentioned about the poor quality drinking water, alleging that it carried drain water.
In the previous hearing, the court had asked the MCD Commissioner and CEO of DJB to file reports on Monday, in response to a petition filed by the South Extension (Part I) RWA. As both the bodies failed to so, the court issued a final warning saying, "if this time they do not file a report, they will face contempt of court proceedings."
South Extension RWA had filed a suit against the MCD and DJB for negligence and delay in work related to road repair and cleanliness of open drains in 2012.
The petition had alleged that an open drain in the area remained dirty despite repeated complaints by the localites.
The court took suo-moto cognizance of the matter and disposed it off in March this year, directing the MCD and DJB to get into action and start the cleaning and repair work with immediate effect.