In the absence of a proper disposal mechanism, the fallen leaves are just being swept into piles on the roadside; or worse still, these heaps are being burnt down in gross violation of National Green Tribunal orders.
Management of ‘leaf litter’ or dried fallen leaves on the roads has once again become a challenge for Dwarka’s civic authorities. In the absence of a proper disposal mechanism, the leaves are just being swept into piles and left on the roadside — only to strewn by the wind again.
Worse still, sometimes, the piles are burnt down to save the hassle of sweeping again and again.
A sweeper says on condition of anonymity, “We are only sweepers. We sweep them into a pile and leave it at a place from where the corporation vehicle can lift it. But it should be done as soon as possible. If we leave the pile for a few hours, the winds will scatter them all over the place again. So, our superiors might think we are not doing our job.”
An RTI activist from Dwarka, Shobhit Chauhan, adds, “All around Dwarka, you can see heaps of yellow leaves. The civic authorities are not taking the issue seriously. Every day, such piles are being burnt across the sub-city, in clear violation of the National Green Tribunal [NBT] orders. The MCD workers themselves are doing it.”
He continues, “On the other hand, the DDA is not able to manage its horticulture waste. It has several compost pits in parks and other areas, and often these pits – meant for horticultural waste – are set on fire!"
Ex-president of Dwarka Forum, Sushil Kumar, feels, “Civic bodies should ensure that environmental laws are followed. The Corporation and the DDA should have a system in place to convert the leaves into compost.”
