Concerned over “serious threat” of water pollution of the Yamuna river and change of its course, the National Green Tribunal has banned dumping of debris, including solid waste, on its banks and directed governments of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to remove the rubble immediately.
“Debris is being thrown on the river bank and it is a serious threat to the change of course as well as water pollution of river Yamuna. Certain directions need to be issued forthwith in order to ensure that pollution of Yamuna is prevented and the debris from the site removed.
“We hereby issue an injunction restraining anybody, any person, authority from throwing any debris of any kind including solid wastes on the river bank of Yamuna or the water body near river Yamuna,” a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
“The state of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi Development Authority, government of NCT Delhi and East Delhi Municipal Corporation shall forthwith start removing debris from the river bank of Yamuna,” the full bench, comprising judicial member Justice P. Jyothimani and experts members D.K. Agrawal, G.K. Pandey and A.R. Yousuf, said.
The tribunal has also directed the authorities to dump the debris at a site in Gazipur which is exclusively meant for dumping of municipal solid wastes.
Referring to the principle of “polluter pays” the NGT has also directed the authorities to recover the costs of removing the debris from the persons, including a company, partnership, sole proprietorship and individuals, who dump it.
The tribunal’s directions came on the plea filed by one Manoj Mishra, who has opposed the dumping of rubble on the banks of the Yamuna river.