MC to process addl 3,000 tonnes of solid waste daily by 2026, SC told

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Friday told the Supreme Court that by 2026 it will exceed its capacity of processing 11,000 tonnes of solid waste generated daily in the Capital.

Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, representing the MCD, told a Bench led by Justice AS Oka that due to the July 26 order of the top court, the MCD was able to get all necessary clearances and the work had now started.

“By 2026, we will not only be able to meet the new waste generated on a daily basis but also be ahead of it by 3,000 tonnes a day. We have started the tender process and in the next two weeks, we will be able to finalise the bids for the purpose,” Guruswamy told the Bench which also included Justice AG Masih.

“The Delhi Government has set the limit under which the Municipal Commissioner can execute the contracts for solid waste management. The proposal was cleared from the office of the Lieutenant-Governor and the process has begun. It is a big achievement for the Capital, as the proposal was stuck for decades,” Guruswamy said.

The Bench asked Guruswamy to file an affidavit enlisting the steps the civic body took following its July 26 order and posted the matter for further hearing on November 25.

While hearing a matter related to deteriorating air quality and disposal of solid waste in Delhi-NCR, the SC had on July 26 noted that the Capital generated more than 11,000 tonnes of solid waste every day while the daily capacity of processing plants made available by the MCD was only 8,073 tonnes.

Pulling up the MCD for a “sorry state of affairs” with regard to implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules in the Capital, the top court had asked the Union Environment Secretary to convene a meeting of MCD and Delhi Government officials to find a solution.