The Delhi High Court on Monday sought to know from the Centre and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government whether the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, directing closure of industries located in residential areas and discharging untreated toxic waste in drains leading to the Yamuna, was being implemented.
A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mital and Justice C. Hari Shankar posed the query to the governments’ counsel, who opposed a petition for a direction to clean the river, which has a 22-km stretch in Delhi.
When the counsel told the court that the NGT was monitoring the issue, the Bench asked: “What are your [government’s] efforts? Have you complied with it at the ground level?” The matter has been listed for September 13.
Advocate Anupam Tripathi, who filed the petition, alleged that the 22-km stretch of the Yamuna has been declared ecologically dead. The plea further stated that around ₹6,500 crore has been spent for the revival of the river but the money has gone down the drain due to “callous” approach of the authorities.