The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) to not dump municipal solid waste or raise any structure near a school in Shahdara.

A Bench headed by NGT judicial member Justice Raghuvendra S. Rathore also directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to allocate land to the civic body so that an auto workshop operating in the Jhilmil Colony, can be relocated.

“We direct the EDMC not to dump any municipal solid waste in the area in future nor any structure shall now be raised. We further directed the DDA to give the land out of the remaining six acres, which is required for the purpose of constructing an auto workshop,” the Bench said.

Directing the allotment of land in accordance to existing laws, the Bench also comprising NGT expert member Justice Satyawan S. Garbyal added, “It is made clear that the authority concerned for the purpose of giving the land to the EDMC may take immediate steps to complete procedural formalities.”

The directions came when the green panel was hearing a matter that was initiated on a letter sent by Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel.

In the plea filed, Mr. Goel had sought directions to authorities to remove municipal solid waste that was accumulating near the Babu Ram School in Shahdara. Additionally, the plea had sought relocation of an auto workshop that was operational in the “densely populated residential area of Jhilmil Colony”.

Noting that following directions of the tribunal, the civic body had stopped dumping of waste in the said location, the Bench noted, “The only thing which remained was the auto workshop of the EDMC. In our considered opinion, working of [an] auto workshop in a residential area would definitely be a source of degradation of environment.”