NGT: Use machines to clean dust on the roads

The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday lambasted the municipal corporations over maintenance of cleanliness in different parts of the national capital and asked civic bodies to “use machines to clean the roads”.

“Why can’t corporations use machines to clean the roads Corporation staff sweeps and dumps garbage in drains. Nothing substantial has come before us for one whole year. We have been asking corporations to clean the roads. Don’t try to justify your wrongs,” a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.

The observation came while hearing a plea filed by East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) which had sought NGT’s nod to buy tractors for collection of waste.

“Why do you want to buy tractors for collection of waste Use advanced machines which suck the dust. Tractors are used in rural areas for agricultural purposes and for collection of cow dung. They cause so much pollution,” the bench said.

When the counsel for the corporations told the court that they were unable to clean the roads as most of the colonies had cars parked on them, the NGT said, “People have no rights to park their vehicles on the metalled roads. There are orders of this tribunal prohibiting them to do so.”

Advocate Balendu Shekhar, representing EDMC, said there are several narrow lanes where work was impossible.