Landfill site allotted despite objections

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, APRIL 8.

Completely ignoring serious objections about air flight safety, including those of VIP flights by the Air Force authorities and pushing under the carpet protests from the area farmers, the Delhi Government has gone ahead and notified 722 bighas at Bawana as sanitary landfill site. A notification to this effect was issued on March 15 by the Office of Director (Panchyat).

The Air Force Station, Narela, had written a number of letters to the Lieutenant-Governor, Mr. Vijai Kapoor, raising serious questions about the location of the landfill site which was hardly one km from their campus. In fact, a delegation of farmers, led by the Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, and the area MLA, Mr. Surinder Kumar, also met Mr. Kapoor, but he stuck to this stand of handing over the site to MCD for landfill purposes.

In fact, during last June, the Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Kulwant Singh, had in a letter to the Lt-Governor pointed out that the Air Force station has a helipad which is in frequent use by the IAF for operational requirements. A garbage dumping area close to this station would pose a threat to flight safety. Birds like vultures and crows are commonly seen in these area which are a known threat to safe flying. Another helipad near Janjoli was close to this station where in the recent past the Prime Minister landed on an official visit.

He had also pointed out that the Air Force Station, Narela, accommodates close to 1,000 personnel. A Kendriya Vidyalaya is also situated in the camp where 1,000 students are studying in the school. A garbage dumping area close to this station was surely a health hazard to the personnel living in the station. It had asked for curbing any move to locate a land fill site near the Air Force Station.

The same reasons were forwarded once again by Flight Lieutenant S. Reddy, in a letter written on February 17. But the Lt- Governor, during his meetings with farmers of the area, had feigned ignorance about any threat to flights. This fact was also brought to the notice of the Lt-Governor by the area MLA, Mr.Surinder Kumar, but brushing aside objections and flight safety issue, Mr. Kapoor asked the Director (Panchayat) to issue the notification. The Director (Panchayat) has notified that the Gaon Sabha land of around 722 bighas located in Bawana village in North-West district be handed over the MCD for landfill site. No premium or ground rent would be payable to the Gaon Sabha and the MCD would revert back the site to the village authorities after the landfill is complete. It would also be the responsibility of the allottee to protect the land from any encroachment.

However, the farmers of the area do not plan to give up so easily. They have planned a massive rally on April 22 where a plan of action for an agitation would be announced. ``The farmers of the area will not allow the landfill site to become operational and would oppose it. We plan to lay siege on the site and will not allow the authorities to take possession. You cannot have a landfill site near your fields and houses,'' remarked, Mr. Surinder Singh, leading the agitation.

Mr. Singh, a ruling party MLA, said the farmers were prepared for a long struggle and warned that any attempt to defy their sentiments could lead to a violent situation. ``If the government does not listen, it could well turn out to be a law and order situation and things could really go out of control,'' he cautioned.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Previous : CAG pulls up NDMC over garbage issue