Allow Cookies!
By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies
In a suo-moto proceeding on 30th May the National Green Tribunal has taken up the matter of huge water contamination in the unauthorized habitations near Bhalswa, Gazipur and Okhla landfills in Delhi. The matter came into limelight through a news item published in The Times of India which highlighted the fact that huge water contamination is taking place in the above habitations of Delhi. The aquifers have been contaminated by the leachate which is a contaminated viscous liquid that leak and spread through the soil and contaminate the groundwater resources. The water contamination in those habitations is raising serious issues of public health.
The TOI article describes the condition of landfills which was commissioned in the year 1990 but there has been no scientific management by the concerned municipal corporation. Leachate from the landfills is getting discharged into the River Yamuna affecting the water quality of the river. The ground water contains heavy metals exceeding the WHO norms. TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) level is in the range of 510 to 3205 mg/L and there is high concentration of Chlorine Nitrate, Ammonia and Iron with pH between 7.5 and 8.5. These landfill sites are posing serious danger to the environment.
Landfill sites |
Waste Dumped Per day (In Metric Tons) |
Bhalswa |
2000 |
Gazipur |
2100 |
Okhla |
1200 |
The Green Tribunal New Delhi Bench in its order observed that the primary responsibility of managing the legacy waste and allied issues is of the concerned Municipal Corporations in accordance to the provisions of the Solid Municipal Waste Rules, 2016. In pursuance of which the tribunal directed the North, East and South Delhi Municipal Corporations to take appropriate action and furnish their respective reports in the matter within one month. It also directed the Commissioners of the Municipal Corporations to be present in court on the next date of hearing. The matter is next listed on 11th of July for further hearing.
86540
103860
630
114
59824