The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday constituted a ‘High Level Committee’ (HLC) to oversee the implementation of its orders with regards to cleaning of the Yamuna.
The tribunal has requested Delhi Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena to head the committee, who is chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and administrator of Delhi. The other members of the committee will be the Chief Secretary of Delhi who will act as convener.
Outlining the failures of different agencies, the Principal Bench headed by Adarsh Kumar Goel observed that having multiple authorities in Delhi may be one of the reasons for not achieving success so far. “There appears to be lack of ownership and accountability. A huge amount has already spent without the desired results. Judicial oversight has continued for almost 29 years.
“The DDA has to take measures for protecting flood plain zones while drain owning agencies — the DJB, Irrigation Department, Municipal Corporation etc. have to maintain drains free from pollution,” the Bench said.
The Principal Bench observed, “It does appear that the situation to a great extent remains unsatisfactory, in violation of judgment of the Supreme Court and orders of this Tribunal, fixing rigid timelines which are being defied at whims, without accountability and without visible improvement in ground situation.
Thus, effective execution regime appears to be necessary with involvement of topmost administrative authorities with flexibility of procedures for award of works for execution of pollution prevention projects.”
“In the light of above discussion, we constitute HLC of concerned authorities in Delhi where pollution of Yamuna is higher (about75%), compared too the river basin States. Were quest the Lieutenant Governor, Delhi, who is Chairman DDA and Administrator of Delhi under Article 239 of the Constitution, to head the Committee.”, the NGT has ordered.
Basing its orders on the status of Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs), unchecked flow of sewerage into Najafgarh and Shahadra Drains etc., non-laying of sewerage network in various residential localities and the level of pollution in the Yamuna as displayed on the Delhi Pollution Control Committee website, the Tribunal noted that its earlier order dated 27.01.2021, was not being complied by the Delhi Govt. despite expenditure of Rs 1500 Cr.
Disposing of a petition filed by Ashwani Yadav, the bench observed that this is yet another petition on the issue of unabated pollution of River Yamuna and continued failure of the authorities in taking adequate remedial measures in terms of specific orders on the subject passed by the Supreme Court and this Tribunal.”