HC to examine who’s in charge of Aerocity’s waste management

New Delhi: Whose writ runs in Aerocity, the hub of hotel chains, when it comes to waste management? Delhi High Court has agreed to examine the matter after MCD asserted it has the jurisdiction to supervise adherence to rules for solid waste management disposal in the area's hotels, including airport kitchens.
On Wednesday, Justice Jyoti Singh kept the matter for hearing on a day-to-day basis after MCD moved an urgent plea to lift last month's stay on its proposed tender to take over waste management of the area, falling in Najafgarh zone. HC had allowed MCD to go ahead with its tender for Najafgarh, but excluded Aerocity and the related airport area from its ambit on a plea filed by Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) challenging the tender plan.
Opposing MCD's move to include the airport area in a plan to set up a material recovery facility for the management of dry solid waste in Najafgarh zone on a PPP basis, DIAL said as the airport's operator, it has jurisdiction to manage such waste and has already deputed a private firm that is adhering to all norms.
Appearing for MCD, senior advocate Sanjay Jain and standing counsel Tushar Sannu said the airport area and Aerocity have several bulk waste generators that DIAL and its contractor are unable to manage. MCD alleged solid waste being produced in that part of Najafgarh zone had resulted in "incessant illegal dumping of waste having origin from the airport and Aerocity" by DIAL and is attracting birds, which could turn fatal as it may lead to bird hits.
In its stay order, HC said the area falls under OMDA (operation, management and development agreement) signed between DIAL and govt, making it the sole agency in charge of IGI airport. It saw merit in DIAL's stand that such services were entrusted to the operator not just for the airport, but also extended to Aerocity under the lease deed and OMDA.
But MCD said it alone is the local body entrusted with all aspects of solid waste management under Solid Waste Management Rules and laws.