NGT directs DDA to rejuvenate Neela Hauz lake without delay

New Delhi : The National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi Development Authority to rejuvenate the Neela Hauz lake in South Delhi without any delay.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel noted that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has written to the Public Works Department to arrange fixing of iron meshes and create vertical gardens or to issue a NOC to it to undertake the work.

"In view of the damage being caused to the environment by illegal dumping of waste, we direct DDA to undertake the requisite remedial measures without waiting for further response from PWD. If PWD has any objection, it may move this tribunal," the bench said in a recent order.

The tribunal had earlier directed the DDA to furnish action taken report on rejuvenation of the Neela Hauz lake. According to the report, commuters passing through Aruna Asif Ali Marg Road Bridge over the lake are dumping plastic bags, bottles, glass framed photographs, polythene bags and other waste including bio-medical waste which is removed by the staff of Neela Hauz Bio-diversity park managed by DDA.

The tribunal's order came after taking note of a newspaper report which said the lake is becoming a dumping ground. Waste so dumped is being retrieved daily by the DDA but no preventive or remedial action against illegal dumping is being taken which adversely affects conservation of the lake, it said.

"As the lake lies on Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, commuters just park their vehicles on the side of the road and dump waste directly into the waterbody. This ranges from municipal solid waste, plastic bags and bottles, glass to puja material and often includes biomedical waste like syringes, according to officials of the DDA," the report said.