Sounding alert at the garbage mounds “rising up like Qutub Minar” at Capital’s landfill sites, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Delhi Government and civic agencies to get into the cleaning act and prepare in advance before signs of another epidemic outbreak surface.
With news of a possible avian flu outbreak in the city with several bird deaths reported from the Delhi Zoo, the Bench of Justices Madan B lokur and Adarsh K Goel found this to be a warning sign and directed all civic agencies and Delhi Government to sit together and draw out an action plan to clear the garbage mounds. The meeting shall be chaired by the Chief Secretary, the Bench said.
Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Delhi Chief Secretary, said that garbage at three landfill sites — Okhla, Ghazipur and Bhalswa, measure upto a height of 45 metres. But counsel for AAP Government Rahul Mehra pointed out that it is the municipal councilors to be blamed and not MlAs.
The Bench said, “Garbage mounds at landfill sites rise above 45 metres, almost half the size like Qutub Minar. It is an alarming situation. Who is going to deal with itIJ” The Bench was of the view that the burden rests equally on civic agencies and Delhi MlAs who must play a role to spread awareness on cleanliness.
Mehra said that the MlAs have to look after several other responsibilities including construction of drains, sewers and roads in their constituencies and asking them to create awareness is asking for too much. The Bench said, “Don’t say that. It has to start from home. It’s a bully who blames others for every problem. You are just blaming everybody. Don’t say MlAs do not have any responsibility to keep the city clean.”
The court directed MlAs of Okhla, Ghazipur and Bhalswa areas to attend the proposed meeting of all stakeholders. It said that the Delhi Government must be ready for any situation. “You should not react only to a situation, but plan and show preparedness that should reflect for future,” said the Bench.