The National Green Tribunal today came down heavily on New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) over its failure to check waste burning in Lodhi Garden here saying, "we don't want your officials to cook up stories".
Taking note of burning of nearly one tonne of dry leaves, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar had directed the civic body to conduct an inquiry into the incident.
"It is very unfortunate that you escape from your responsibilities. We don't want your officials to cook up stories. They should have told the truth. Tell your officers to behave. They think they can say anything and get away.
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"You want us to believe this story. Why will a passer-by burn leaves? Where did you find vagabonds and drug addicts? Does this inspector know the security cover that this area has? They don't allow a stray person to stand for even two minutes there," the bench said.
The tribunal, which stopped short of imposing a fine of Rs 50,000 on the officers of the municipal body, rapped NDMC for not complying with its directions on burning of leaves.
The civic body told the tribunal that burning was not done by its staff and the heap of leaves lying near the Lodhi garden may have "accidentally" caught fire as some passerby may have thrown cigarette or bidi buds. It said that since there "vagabonds and drug addicts" in the area they might have set the heap of leaves ablaze.
NDMC, in its reply, said that it has already issued show cause notice to its sanitary inspector and sought his reply within 48 hours as to why disciplinary proceedings be not initiated against him.
Advocate Sakshi Popli, appearing for NDMC, said the department would be more "vigilant" and "careful" in future and more security will be provided in the area.
Cracking the whip on those causing air pollution by burning waste material, the tribunal today restrained individuals from burning garbage, leaves, plastic, rubber, crop residues etc. In open areas in any part of Delhi and NCR and announced fine of Rs 5,000 on any such activity.
