New Delhi, Oct 16 The National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to provide the details of its laboratory and available equipment for testing groundwater near the 70-acre Ghazipur landfill.
The tribunal was hearing a matter in which it had taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report regarding a massive fire at the landfill in East Delhi on April 21, 2024.
In an order dated October 13, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad noted that the tribunal had earlier directed the DPCC to analyse the groundwater near the landfill under the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Rules.
“Samples at least from 20 different locations within the radius as per rules and subsequently extending to 1.5 km radius of Ghazipur site be taken, and sample analysis report be submitted,” the tribunal had said.
During the proceedings last Tuesday, the DPCC’s counsel said that, as the equipment for testing is not available with the committee, a tender has been floated for the same.
In its order, the green panel said, “The DPCC is expected to have a fully equipped lab. Hence, we direct the Member Secretary, DPCC to appear virtually on the next date of hearing and disclose the status of the lab and available equipment.”
The matter has been posted for further proceedings on January 19.
