Ensure No Illegal Dumping Of Plastic, Electrical And Medical Garbage, Take Action Against Defaulting Units: Delhi High Court To MCD

The Delhi High Court has directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to ensure that there is no illegal dumping of electrical, plastic and medical garbage in the national capital.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula also directed the civic body to take appropriate action against all the defaulting units under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957.

“The MCD shall ensure that there is no illegal dumping of electrical, plastic and medical garbage in Delhi, contrary to the statutory provisions. The MCD shall take appropriate action against all the defaulting units under Section 416 of the DMC Act and the other authorities shall also take appropriate action in accordance with law against all violating units in Delhi,” the court said.

It also directed the MCD to ensure strict compliance of the statutory provisions under the environmental laws and to conclude the action initiated against the units which are violating norms and those which are functional in non-industrial areas, within four months.

The court passed the directions while closing a suo motu public interest litigation initiated by it in 2020 based on a letter received in respect of pollution in various villages in the city due to dumping of electronic, plastic and medical garbage as well as discharge from other polluting industrial units.

The court took note of the status report filed by the MCD stating that no illegal burning of plastic waste was found in the industrial areas where units are running without valid license.

No plastic/PVC wholesale market is situated in the areas under the jurisdiction of erstwhile North DMC, where usually mass burning of plastic/PVC waste is done, the MCD said.

“In light of the above stated Status Reports no further orders or directions are required to be passed by this Court. However, it is directed that the MCD shall ensure strict compliance of the statutory provisions under the Environmental laws,” the court said.

Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. SOUTH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF DELHI & ORS.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 707

Click Here To Read Order