NGT warns of summoning Delhi Finance secretary

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday warned of summoning the Delhi Finance secretary if the AAP government fails to give authorisation to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) for spending money to construct a drain here before October 8.

A bench of Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore and expert member S S Garbyal said in case the authorisation for spending the remaining amount is not given in writing to the EDMC, the Finance secretary of the Delhi government shall remain present before it. 

The green panel took exception that despite its specific order to give authorisation to the EDMC, the matter was being delayed by shuttling it from one department to other. 

"No doubt the manner in which this case is being taken up, on behalf of Government of NCT Delhi, is quite interesting. We are witnessing a true picture as to how one department shifts the responsibility to the other, even when all of them re within the Govt. of NCT Delhi. 

As already said, we had intimated the chief secretary, Government of NCT Delhi vide our last order but even then, there is no progress in this matter where only authorisation for unspent amount is to be granted to the EDMC. 

"Therefore, the Tribunal has no option but to call the secretary Finance, Govt. of NCT Delhi to present in person before it, in case the appropriate authorisation is not given to the EDMC before the next date," the bench said. 

It directed that a copy of this order be sent to the lieutenant governor and the Delhi chief secretary through e-mail immediately. The matter is listed for next hearing on October 8. 

The order came on the plea filed by environment activist Vikrant Tongad seeking immediate removal of municipal waste and plastic bags from the canal in Dallupura in East Delhi.