High Court raps Delhi civic authorities over Dwarka trash 'inaction'

[SK MALIK]

High Court raps Delhi civic authorities over Dwarka trash 'inaction'

Despite its state-of-the-art architecture, Dwarka sub city in South West Delhi has been turned into a bin.

That's the picture which was painted for Delhi High Court by photographs attached to Public Interest Litigation (PIL) pursued by aggrieved residents.

From the mismanagement of markets, filthy passages, encroachments on footpaths, garbage and solid waste on vacant lands, to poorly maintained roads, it's a messy situation in Dwarka.

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'Filthy': Authorities have been tasked with cleaning up Dwarka within 10 days and they were also asked to submit photographs shot exactly from the same angles as pictures submitted by the petitioners

The petitioners alleged the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) are locked in tussles, leaving Dwarka residents to suffer.

"It's been 20 years since inception of Dwarka, but the residents suffer due to non-performance of the civic authorities. The residents have nowhere to go but to approach the Delhi High Court," one of the petitioners, Ebbani Aggarwal, said.

"The roads and sewerage need improvement. It just doesn't feel like we are living in Delhi and especially during rains the conditions worsens," said Ajit Dubey, a Dwarka resident.

Taking note of the plea, a Delhi High Court Bench of Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul rapped the civic authorities, and directed DDA and SDMC officials to work together.

The authorities have been tasked to clean up the area in ten days and submit photographs shot from exactly the same angles as submitted by the petitioners.

They are also to submit a status report.

According to the petitioners, "Pathetic civic conditions in Dwarka sub city is primarily the result of incompetencies of local authorities. The filthy condition in most parts of Dwarka is a direct consequence of negligence and non-performance of Constitutional as well as statutory obligations of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation. Moreover, there is constant state of tussle and friction between SDMC and DDA."

The PIL was filed by lawyers Ebbani Aggarwal and Gaurav Deep, both residents of Dwarka.

They had earlier approached the court seeking a regular water supply to residents; and on the dismal waste disposal arrangements in Dwarka, besides encroachment on the footpaths of Dwarka Sector-13 Metro Station, where the court had ordered immediate action.

Referring to the plight of residents, petitioners pointed out that markets, roads, footpaths and open spaces in Dwarka sub city are full of filth, solid waste and construction materials.

For example, they allege, gutters in and around Sector-4 Market are not properly covered while waste from sweet shops in particular and from dairies is thrown on the footpaths.

There is also not enough space to park vehicles, which merely adds to the chaos.

According to the petitioners, in Sector-16 there are many open and vacant lands where solid waste, rubbish and remains of construction materials are being dumped by residents of nearby societies.

This indicates that there is no proper and effective waste management system, they allege.

Similar conditions also prevail in and around Sector-13 Metro Station.

It was also alleged by the petitioners that SDMC and DDA have failed to maintain the service roads and footpaths in Dwarka that are not properly levelled and full of potholes.

Responding to the order of the High Court, SDMC director of press and information Mukesh Yadav said, "The zonal officers will take necessary actions according to the court order and submit the report."