The travelers on the Grand Trunk Road are quite familiar with the view they get as they enter the National Capital Region, New Delhi– a huge mountain of garbage. This Grand Trunk Road is an important passage into the city of New Delhi. The dump is also accompanied by the horrendous smell that leaves passengers passing by gagging.
The year 2016 also witnessed a huge rise in pollution despite the odd-even concept adopted for vehicles. Which was later followed by fog– and as Delhites call it Smog. This phenomenon alarmed the citizens of New Delhi and led some of its residents, especially asthma patients, and heart patients to flee from the city during Diwali. Even with repeated protests, the relevant authorities have turned a deaf year to the woes of those living in the city.
After a resident’s association approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) with a plea to look into the matter, the organization has decided to intervene and take the matter into its hands. The NGT on Monday issued a ban on all disposable plastic items, including those used for groceries packaging, from January 1, 2017. All the grocers, vegetable sellers and slaughter houses, if caught littering, will be charged with a fine of Rs. 10,000. The NGT also seriously criticized the relevant authorities for not taking any remedial action beforehand and let the situation get worse.
The New Delhi residents, who are overjoyed, consider this decision to abolish disposable plastic as a New Year gift.
