NGT directs authorities to de-silt drain to prevent putrid odour

The National Green Tribunal has directed the authorities concerned to regularly de-silt the open and the covered areas of a south Delhi drain to prevent its putrid odour and noxious gases from inconveniencing residents.

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the concerned authorities to regularly de-silt the open and covered areas of a south Delhi drain to prevent its putrid odor and noxious gases from inconveniencing residents. The tribunal also sought further reports from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

Background of the Case

The NGT was hearing a matter filed by a residents' welfare association regarding a partially open stormwater drain in the Greater Kailash-1 area that is allegedly emitting toxic and foul gases, thus causing health issues for the residents. The bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, noted that the total length of the drain is around 945 meters, of which 300 meters is open, according to a report filed by the MCD.

MCD's Report and Residents' Concerns

The MCD's report disclosed that some de-silting operations had been carried out, but photographs produced by the residents showed that silt still existed in the open area, and a foul smell persisted. The bench, also comprising Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Member A Senthil Vel, observed that no improvement had been witnessed by the residents of the area.

DJB's Report and Proposed Actions

The NGT also took note of the DJB's report, which indicated that there were several points from where sewage was entering the drain. The report stated that six of these points would be trapped by March, and sewage from Mehrauli would be trapped by June 2025. The bench directed the MCD to explore the feasibility and possibility of increasing the number of vents in the covered area of the drain until the proposed actions were taken by the DJB.

Further Directions and Next Hearing

The tribunal directed the concerned authorities to regularly de-silt the open and covered areas and file an action-taken report. Additionally, the DJB was asked to disclose the capacity of the Okhla Sewage Treatment Plant, the extent of sewage diverted to the plant from different sources, and whether the plant's capacity was sufficient to treat the sewage.

The green panel also sought a report from the MCD regarding the purpose of creating four channels in the drain, which reportedly caused difficulty in cleaning it. The matter has been posted to December 22 for further proceedings, with the NGT seeking additional reports from the MCD and the DJB.

The NGT's directive to the authorities aims to address the concerns of residents regarding the putrid odor and noxious gases emanating from the open drain in Greater Kailash-1. Regular de-silting, trapping of sewage entry points, and exploring the feasibility of increasing vents in the covered area are among the measures expected to mitigate the issue. The tribunal's intervention underscores its commitment to safeguarding the environment and ensuring the well-being of citizens.