NEW DELHI:
Government agencies have failed to stop dumping of construction material on the river bed
along Yamuna Pushta Road despite orders from LG Tejinder Khanna and National
Green Tribunal. Flimsy barriers and a notice asking people to desist from
throwing debris on the river bed have done no good as fresh piles of rubble can
be found there even now.
"We cannot imagine what stops agencies from taking action. The barriers put up in the area are so inadequate that they can't even stop a truck. The water body lying behind mounds of rubbish has almost disappeared," said Manoj Mishra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan.
"We cannot imagine what stops agencies from taking action. The barriers put up in the area are so inadequate that they can't even stop a truck. The water body lying behind mounds of rubbish has almost disappeared," said Manoj Mishra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan.
With appeals to the
government yielding no result, Mishra filed a plea with NGT. GK Pandey, expert
member of the tribunal and Justice A Suryanarayan Naidu, acting chairperson,
issued an order to the ministry of environment and forests, Delhi government,
DDA, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, UP irrigation department and Yamuna
River Development Authority (YRDA) on March 12, 2012 to stop encroachment
and dumping of solid waste on the river bed within seven days.
The land in question, even though it is within the territory of Delhi, belongs to the UP irrigation department. Initially, Delhi government had claimed its helplessness to take action as the case was outside their jurisdiction. UP irrigation department officials had said they would look into the appeal once the state elections were over.
The land in question, even though it is within the territory of Delhi, belongs to the UP irrigation department. Initially, Delhi government had claimed its helplessness to take action as the case was outside their jurisdiction. UP irrigation department officials had said they would look into the appeal once the state elections were over.
"It is
absolutely appalling that despite instructions, dumping continues. We will look
into the matter and take immediate action. The agency at fault will also be
brought to book," said sources in the LG office. In January, the LG wrote
to MCD, PWD and irrigation and flood control department to ensure that none of
their construction debris is dumped on the river bed.
Farmers living in the area have claimed that each day, hundreds of trucks carrying malba arrive at the Pushta and dump tonnes of waste along the road. A stretch of about 80-100m from the road leading to the river bed has been raised by 6-10 feet. Radhu, a farmer, said that till a couple of years ago, the area would be under water during the floods. When the water receded, the land would be used for rice cultivation.
Farmers living in the area have claimed that each day, hundreds of trucks carrying malba arrive at the Pushta and dump tonnes of waste along the road. A stretch of about 80-100m from the road leading to the river bed has been raised by 6-10 feet. Radhu, a farmer, said that till a couple of years ago, the area would be under water during the floods. When the water receded, the land would be used for rice cultivation.
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