In a major victory for Delhi’s rural and unauthorized colonies, the Delhi High Court has issued a landmark order prohibiting garbage dumping in these areas. The ruling came in response to a public interest litigation highlighting the severe waste crisis plaguing thousands of residents.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj hailed the decision as a significant win, criticizing the government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for their alleged collusion in turning residential neighborhoods into dumpsites. ‘The court has exposed the government’s false claims of reducing waste mountains,’ Bharadwaj stated on social media.
The problem has been acute in areas like Kirari’s Sharma Colony, where MCD trucks have been offloading waste from the Bhalswa landfill onto DDA land. This has led to four-foot-high garbage piles, severe waterlogging, and toxic pollution contaminating soil, air, and groundwater. Residents report that tube well water is turning poisonous, posing long-term health risks including diseases from chemical-laden waste.
Bharadwaj, who inspected the site on January 27, accused authorities of deliberately neglecting poor and rural communities to score political points elsewhere. The AAP has consistently opposed such practices, pushing for proper waste management across the capital.
With this order, hopes are high that MCD and the government will enforce compliance strictly, preventing further environmental degradation in Delhi’s underserved regions. This could mark a turning point in the battle against the city’s growing waste menace.