"Disastrous": Supreme Court calls for urgent measures to tackle solid waste crisis in Delhi

The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed alarm over the mounting solid waste crisis in Delhi and urged the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to explain how far the authorities have complied with timelines prescribed under 2016 rules for the management of such waste..A Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih was hearing the case concerning the Delhi air pollution crisis and related issues. One aspect that had recently come under the Court's scanner during recent hearings of this case was the mismanagement of solid waste in Delhi.The Court today grilled the Delhi government and the MCD over whether the timelines for solid waste management under Rules introduced in 2016 have been complied with."In the MCD area, there are 3,000 metric tonnes of waste (going untreated). By 2027, there would be 6,000 metric tonnes ... Mr. Chief Secretary, please file an affidavit, telling us very honestly - which of the timelines in the rules have been complied with and which have not been complied with," Justice Oka remarked..The Court proceeded to order the Delhi government to file a better affidavit, which would also detail measures taken to curb fires due to illegal dumping of garbage, particularly at Ghazipur and Bhalswa."With some degree of sadness, we are recording that in the capital city, every day, 3,000 tonnes of solid waste is being generated which is not capable of being treated and therefore (there is illegal dumping)," it observed.It added that it may also consider whether some development activities should be halted so that the generation of solid waste can be controlled..Meanwhile, a tiff ensued between the MCD's counsel and the Amicus Curiae over whether the authorities have been doing enough to tackle the waste crisis. "Our plants for resolving this issue are stuffed in litigation before Justice Gavai led bench," Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy informed on behalf of the MCD during the hearing. "If there intentions are so good, they should tell as to how many times they moved early application as well. On July 21, they said in an affidavit about 3,800 metric tonnes of waste, today's affidavit is of the same - 3,800 metric tonnes. They have done absolutely nothing. No difference," replied Amicus Curiae Archana Dave.Guruswamy objected to this, calling Dave's submission unfair. "It is a very disastrous situation in the capital city. No point in having heated debates in the court," the Court eventually observed while calling on the Delhi government to take corrective measures. .The Court expressed particular concern over 3,800 tonnes of untreated waste being dumped at two sites - Ghazipur and Bhalswa. The Court added that it expected the Delhi government to come out with measures to prevent fires due to such daily dumping of waste at the two sites. The Court expressed hope that the authorities will take up this issue with all sincerity.The Delhi government's affidavit is to be submitted by January 27, the Court added. .Other issues being considered by the Court in the same case include measures to curb stubble-burning incidents and restrictions on bursting firecrackers. It had earlier asked the Delhi government to consider implementing a perpetual firecracker ban in the national capital..[Read Live Coverage]