August 7, 2018:
On Monday, Supreme Court irked over rising mountains of garbage in New Delhi, stated that Delhi is facing an "emergency situation" and Government should quickly find a solution instead of just shifting the garbage from one place to another.
SC Bench comprising of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta fumed at ASG's submission on residents of a Delhi locality Sonia Vihar objecting to a landfill site stating that the people have every right to question the decision.
Apex Court went on to say that Civic Body should dump the "waste on the Raj Niwas Marg", where Delhi Lieutenant Governor's official residence is located.
SC Bench stated that,"Are you suggesting that people cannot raise issue like what was done in 1975 that if you ask something, you will be put in jail?".
When the ASG said that they were not suggesting anything like that, Bench added that, "Then put it (garbage) on the Raj Niwas Marg. Do not treat people like this. In Sonia Vihar, perhaps the underprivileged people live."
Bench stated that,"Lives of people are going to be affected if you will put garbage in front of their house. They have a right to say that do not put garbage in front on my house. It is an criminal offence. You will have to find a solution. You cannot just shift the garbage like this".
Supreme Court Bench further added that,"Ganga Ram Hospital has done a study which says that 50 per cent of population of Delhi has a chance of having lung cancer even if they do not smoke. The Niti Aayog says that in 2019, there will be shortage of water in Delhi. Will there be any person alive in Delhi in such a situation?".
Bench stated that Segregation of waste at household level was an important issue and asked the authorities to inform the apex court as to whether an awareness campaign in this regard could be started throughout the city.
The court also sought details as to whether penalty could be imposed on people dumping construction debris or for not following plan on segregation of waste, including household waste.
"You can perhaps have some penalty if people will not follow it (segregation plan)," the bench said, adding, "People who create construction debris and a person who pulls down his house should pay for it".
Issue of waste management had cropped up when Apex Court was dealing with a matter in which it had in 2015 taken cognisance of death of a seven-year-old boy due to dengue.
Victim had been allegedly denied treatment by five private hospitals here and his distraught parents subsequently committed suicide.
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