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  Metros   Delhi  18 Aug 2018  Delhi’s solid waste issue a serious problem, says Supreme Court

Delhi’s solid waste issue a serious problem, says Supreme Court

PTI
Published : Aug 18, 2018, 2:14 am IST
Updated : Aug 18, 2018, 2:14 am IST

L-G Baijal asked to set up expert committee to deal with issue.

Anil Baijal
 Anil Baijal

New Delhi: The problem of solid waste in Delhi is “very critical” and the cooperation of citizens was needed to deal with it, the Supreme Court today said and asked the lieutenant- governor (L-G) to set up an experts committee to look into it.

A bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur said this committee should go “in-depth” into all aspects relating to management of solid waste, including cleaning up of landfill sites at Ghazipur, Okhla and Bhalswa, as the situation in Delhi was “very critical”.

The bench, which also comprised Justices S. Abdul Nazeer and Deepak

Gupta, said the panel should consist of experts, members of civil societies and resident welfare associations (RWAs).

“We request the L-G of Delhi to constitute a committee to go in-depth into all the aspects of solid waste management, including the clean-up of dump sites at Okhla, Ghazipur and Bhalswa,” the court said.

The court observed that as the issue was of considerable importance, the authorities should “not rush into taking a decision”, but analyse all aspects so that the problem of solid waste management in Delhi is taken care of to the satisfaction of all, particularly the residents.

“We expect that the decision will be collaborative,” the bench observed.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Pinky Anand, appearing for the office of L-G, told the bench that she would discuss the matter with the LG and come back to the court within a week.

The bench also asked senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae, to suggest five names of persons from civil society and experts who could participate in the committee as members. At the outset, Gonsalves referred to the affidavits filed by the civic agencies and said it has been said that RWAs were not accepting the proposal on segregation of waste.
   

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