The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday directed the Delhi government to ensure the cessation of grinding, cutting, and washing of plastic waste in the PVC Market located in Tikri Kalan.
The tribunal also directed the relevant authorities to take necessary measures to remove encroachments in the area.
The petition before the green panel alleged violations of environmental norms in the PVC bazar area of Tikri Kalan, West Delhi. It highlighted the presence of large plastic cutter machines that caused noise and water pollution.
A bench comprising Acting Chairperson Justice S. K. Singh observed that in December 2022, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Revenue Department, and Delhi Police conducted two joint inspections of the area. As a result, eight units involved in grinding, cutting, or storage of plastic waste were sealed.
The bench, which also comprised of judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A. Senthil Vel, observed that another joint inspection was carried out in February 2023, and it was discovered that no grinding, cutting, or washing of plastic waste were taking place.
The inspection team, however, found various types of scrap items, such as rubber and plastic waste, rubberised or plastic-coated metals, electric wire and plastic parts of vehicles, were stored in open spaces as well as on the footpath by encroaching public land, the bench noted.
“We direct the respondents (Delhi government and other authorities concerned) to ensure that there should not be grinding, cutting and washing activity. The GNCTD responsible for the identification and demarcation of land have to identify, and demarcate the land and ensure removal of encroachment from the public land,” the NGT stated.
