Disposal of poop: NGT slams DGCA for defiance

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has rapped the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for “repeated defiance” on issuing circular to airlines operating at the IGI Airport to ensure that they do not empty toilet tanks midair. A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel warned that if the order is not complied with by August 31, salary of the Director General of Civil Aviation would be stopped. The green panel took strong objection that despite its specific order there was neither any valid explanation nor there was compliance by the aviation regulator on the issue. “Neither, there is any valid explanation nor there is compliance by the DGCA. It is not disputed that the order is operative and has not been stayed in any proceedings...

“Since there is a repeated defiance by the DGCA with absolutely no acceptable explanation, we have no option but to direct the DGCA to comply with the directions already issued on or before August 31,” the bench, also comprising Justice Jawad Rahim, said. The panel warned that if there is “continued defiance” it may have to consider prosecution of the Director General on the next date. “If the order remains uncomplied, the Director General may be required to remain present in person,” it said.

The NGT posted the matter for hearing on September 17. The DGCA told the bench that the order has not been complied till date because a review petition against the NGT’s order was pending adjudication. The DGCA had sought stay and review of NGT’s December 20, 2016 and the January 10 order of the tribunal claiming that it was impossible to dump human waste mid-air.

On October 2016, a Delhi resident had filed a case alleging that houses in his neighbourhood were damaged by faeces dumped by airlines from planes at night.