NGT’s Order On Segregation Of Waste Will Help Reduce 50% Load On Landfills: Delhi Civic Body

New Delhi: The North Delhi Municipal Corporation applauded the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order passed on December 19 to enforce a fine of Rs 10,000 on those throwing garbage in public places. North MCD further reiterated that it firmly backs the NGT decision of collection, transportation and disposition of waste in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

Chief Environmental Engineer officer of North Delhi Municipal Corporation, Sanjay Kumar Jain speaking to NDTV said, We welcome this change, we hope to make the most of it and we are hoping that with our positive efforts around 50% burden on the landfills will be reduced.

Delhi generates 9,600 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste per day and North zone contributes around 41%waste out of which presently 50% is being segregated.

Also Read: Capital Delhi Awaits Its First Zero Waste Colony

Mr Jain added that the gap of 2,000 metric tonnes, North MCD plans to cover by the next financial year when the segregation of the waste will be made compulsory at the individual entity level.

Currently there is no separation of waste happening at the individual level. North MCD in the Rohini and Civil Lines zone segregates the waste on its own through a three line simple procedure.

First stage is simple segregation in terms of wet (biodegradable), dry (plastic, paper, metal, wood, etc.) and domestic hazardous wastes (diapers, napkins, blades, batteries, mosquito repellents, etc.)

Second stage is to shred, dry and then burn the waste separated in order to produce electricity.

The waste which is neither chemically or biologically reactive and will not decompose at the last stage gets converted into sand and concrete as an inert waste product.

This is our already implemented segregation model and it’s working well. As currently no waste is being dumped at Narela plant by the Rohini and Civil Lines zone and everything is being utilized. Our future endeavor is to make waste generators only segregate the waste. The action plan is ready, come next financial year our ‘waste collecting vehicles’ will go at individuals’ house to collect the waste, from there the segregated waste will go to its respective area. added Mr Jain.

He also added, for now our motive is to educate as many people as we can, we will be holding awareness campaigns for this soon.

First people should be made aware about the benefits of segregation then only they can start segregating the waste, said Mr Jain.

Once segregation is made compulsory at an individual level North MCD plans to start the penalty system.

The civic body also believes that this order will help streamline garbage management and said they are working actively to make the city clean and swachh.

Now when we see people burning garbage, we fine them. Till now we have penalized some 28 people, added Mr Jain.

He also added that North MCD had charged some 26,000 people for throwing waste around North Zone from January 2016 to December 2016.

Also Read: NGT Bans Open Waste Burning Across The Country

When asked about how they plan to monitor public littering effectively, Mr Jain responded that the plan is simple; North MCD first will start with surprise checks at various zones and then will start checking zones at an odd hours. Currently, checking is being done only during working hours, but the plan is to make it a 24-hours process.

The detailed plan of action by North MCD is expected to come in two months’ time as confirmed by P K Gupta, Commissioner, North Corporation.

The new announcements made by the green panel is an attempt to reduce Municipal solid waste (MSW), which is one of the most serious pollutants in the country, particularly in Delhi.

Also Read: National Green Tribunal Directs UP Authorities To Give Details Of Industry Clusters Near Ganga