NDMC tightens up on illegal debris dumping on streets

NEW DELHI: In a bid to curb the pollution caused by the illegal debris dumping, North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) has deputed officials to patrol the streets under their jurisdiction at night time to penalise truck owners who deposit malba (debris) on the roadsides. At least 40 officials have been deployed to keep a vigil on the illegal dumping in the six zones of the area City SP, Karol Bagh, Keshavpuram, Narela, Civil Lines and Rohini. The vigilance patrols would be active between 11 pm and 4 am every day “to patrol stretches/sites where illegal dumping is frequently seen”, according to Varsha Joshi, NDMC commissioner.  This action is taken under sections 357, 397 and 398 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act that prohibits accumulation of rubbish.

Since May 17, already two trucks have been seized by the team at Ram Nagar in Paharganj area and penalised between Rs 4000- Rs 5000 per ton of the illegal construction waste that they dumped.

Varsha Joshi stated on the issue, “Illegal C&D dumping is a huge problem for us. Fugitive dust from the deposits is not just responsible for air pollution but the debris choke drains and leads to waterlogging when it rains. The committee set NGT for clean Yamuna, led by retired judicial member Bikram Sajwan and former Delhi chief secretary Shailja Chandra, has also been emphasising on tough action against illegal debris dumpers in the meetings with us.”