The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed an inspection team headed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to inform it about the mechanism for e-waste collection and transport at the premises of power distribution companies here.

Hazardous material

A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the committee, formed to inspect power distribution companies, to state whether electronic waste from their premises has been removed.

The NGT was hearing a plea filed by Delhi resident and Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking (DESU) Mazdoor Sangh general secretary Balbir Singh alleging violation of e-waste rules by discoms and seeking directions on disposal of all hazardous material from their premises.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Siddhartha Singh raised serious doubts about the findings of the panel and alleged that e-waste was transported much before the inspection by the committee, which also comprised Delhi Pollution Control Committee officials.

The plea had claimed that air conditioners, water coolers, refrigerators and other electrical equipment, including PVC cables, were being dumped at grid sub-stations and other open places in their offices that are not meant for disposal of such e-waste.

The plea added that power companies were also violating the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, by illegally extracting ground water on a very large scale since regular Delhi Jal Board connections have been closed and around

90% of their sites have been illegally extracting millions of gallons ground water for commercial purposes.

Inspection report

The petition dealt with several premises, including the 66-KV grid sub-stations at I. P. Extension, Dilshad Garden, Sonia Vihar, Patparganj Industrial Area, Punjabi Bagh, Sriniwaspuri and Okhla. The joint committee filed the inspection report during the hearing. According to the report, e-waste wasn’t found stored at any discom premises except at the Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited’s Mangolpuri premises.

The report also said that discoms are required to obtain permission from the authority concerned for extraction of ground water and submitted that inadequate fire safety arrangements were found at all premises.