Corporations charging taxes & not cleaning roads: NGT

The National Green Tribunal today slammed municipal corporations over poor garbage disposal system after perusing news reports and pictures of different areas in the national capital.
"Why are you not cleaning garbage from the streets of the capital? We see it ourselves, we are not dreaming. Half of your garbage is thrown out everywhere. Media seems to be more cautious of environmental issues.
"We are living in the capital of our country. Mechanised cleaning is not a big job. Go and see in other countries you will not find even a leaf, plastic or junk on roads and they don't have men to work.

There are places in the world where four people clear 40 miles of road and you have so many people and still you cannot do it. Have you thought about this?" a bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
Expressing concern over the working of the civic bodies, the bench said "you should visualise and think about the needs and how it is to be implemented. How many collection vehicles and people you need?
"Have you ever thought what the people coming to Delhi will think? Residents are not concerned about your inter-departmental issues. You are charging taxes and not cleaning the roads. Don't sit on your chairs and relax," the bench said.

The green panel's observation came while perusing news reports and pictures of various areas in South Delhi where garbage has spilled onto the roads.

"Everyday we see in newspapers pages full of pictures depicting the sorry state of affairs. Don't your officers read these reports? Why don't you give them newspapers to read?" the bench said.
The Tribunal also pulled up the civic bodies for not acting speedily on procurement of new trucks despite its order banning plying of diesel vehicles which are over 10 years old in Delhi-NCR.
"In the last four months, tell us what action have you taken to replace your trucks and vehicles? We had banned the 10-year-old vehicles. Tell us about one vehicle or tender you floated to purchase new vehicle," the Tribunal said.

During the hearing, advocate Balendu Shekhar, appearing for East Delhi Municipal Corporation, told the bench that they have replaced all old vehicles for lifting the garbage.