New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed grave concern over tonnes of untreated solid waste in Delhi and noted no concrete solution seemed to be in sight until 2027 to treat 11,000 tonnes of solid waste generated in the national capital every day.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih directed the Centre to hold a meeting with the Delhi government and the MCD, including its commissioner, to discuss steps required to be taken to avoid an emergency situation.
Expressing concern over the untreated solid waste, the bench remarked, "It doesn't see light at the end of the tunnel" when it comes to solid waste management in Delhi."
The top court said that it is a "sorry state of affairs" in Delhi and that the situation could lead to a public health emergency.
The apex court further said that, going by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) affidavit and timelines, "there are no possibilities of adequate facilities in Delhi till 2027 to treat 11,000 metric tonnes of solid waste in Delhi."
"No guesswork is needed that by then solid waste generated will multiply. It is a sorry state of affairs in the capital city and can lead to a public health emergency," said the bench.
The bench posted the matter for further hearing on September 6.
The apex court was hearing a case relating to the deteriorating air quality in and around the national capital.
In May, the top court expressed concern over the generation of tonnes of untreated solid waste every day in Delhi and said it directly affects the fundamental right of the citizens under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution to live in a pollution-free environment.
Terming the situation where 3,800 tonnes of solid waste in Delhi go untreated every day as "horrible," it had said that immediate measures should be undertaken to ensure that the quantity of untreated solid waste does not increase till proper facilities are put in place to treat them.
The bench had earlier noted it was an admitted position by all concerned that within the limits of the MCD, every day 3,800 metric tonnes of solid waste were generated, which cannot be treated as the existing plants do not have the capacity to treat them.
It had also said that it was "shocking" that over 3,000 tonnes of the 11,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste generated in Delhi every day were not processed.
—ANI