The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given "one last opportunity" to authorities in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, including DMRC, to come clean as to who is dumping rubble in the river Yamuna.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar observed that the affidavits filed by the authorities of the two states do not apparently depict the correct state of affairs as they do not state that the agencies or their contractors have dumped debris in the river, while it "is an undisputed fact" that rubble is being thrown there.
"The affidavits filed before us do not apparently depict the correct state of affairs. None of the affidavits filed by any of the Corporation or authority state that they or their contractors have thrown any debris on the river bank of Yamuna and ... That debris/construction material are lying on the banks of the river Yamuna, which is an undisputed fact," it said.
It gave two weeks time to the authorities to file their fresh affidavits and listed the matter for further hearing on May 23.
"Normally, we would have taken action in accordance with the law. However, in the interest of justice, we grant one final opportunity to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and all other authorities from states of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi to file complete and comprehensive affidavits," the bench said.
It also directed that municipal solid waste (MSW) mixed with debris and construction material not be dumped in the river, after it was brought to the tribunal's notice.
The Tribunal was hearing a petition filed by Manoj
Ishra who has opposed the dumping of rubble on the banks of river Yamuna.
Earlier, the NGT had also set up a high powered committee to ensure complete implementation of the tribunal's directions and to frame one time guidelines for ensuring the same.
