Just
the other day I was engaged in a conversation with the President DCWA, on
overflowing garbage dumps at the entrance of our colony. Whilst a host of
problems seemed to impede any substantial improvement in the present situation,
help may be at hand from the green knight of environmental issues, the National
Green Tribunal or the NGT. The Hindu ran an article on 27 February, a relevant
portion is produced below:
“The
National Green Tribunal on Wednesday asked the civic agencies “why in addition
to a meagre fine provided under the Municipal Corporation Act in this regard,
the Tribunal should not invoke the “polluter pay principle” and direct payment
of much higher costs on throwing garbage, malba (debris)”
on roads, in drains and even by the roadside.
The Tribunal also directed the municipal corporations “to ensure
and take appropriate measures so that no garbage or debris is thrown into the
drains in any of the colonies of Greater Kailash, Defence Colony, South
Extension and all other colonies of Delhi”.
Whilst
it’s not clear if the Tribunal intends to fine the Municipal Corporations, it
will be invoking the principle of “polluter pays”. The polluters in such a case
would be the residents of a particular area. This could spell both good news
and bad news to us residents.
The
bad news first: The NGT may just empower the Municipal Corporations with the
right to impose heavy penalties on residents who pollute by throwing garbage in
non designated areas. Translated into reality, it could also mean nominating the
Welfare Association to ensure compliance of the NGT directive, failing which;
the hefty penalty would be imposed on the Association. The other option would
be Municipal sanitary inspectors would be unleashed in the Colony, who’d fine
all and sundry at will; not a very inviting proposition!
The
good news then; whatever route is adopted, the days of freewheeling garbage
dumping seems to be coming to an end. With the NGT emerging as the environment
watchdog, the Municipal Corporations, Resident Associations and Residents will
all have to work in conjunction to keep the environs of our colony free from
garbage. The time has come for us residents to consciously deliver trash in
three forms biodegradable (e.g. green waste), non bio degradable (e.g. plastics
etc) and recyclable (e.g. glass) etc. We wouldn’t like to wear the ignominious
crown of being penalised as a colony of polluters, whatever form the penalty
may be, instead we should be recognised a s a model community of ‘clean green
environs’.
rajeevsuri.cbms@gmail.com
