The National Green Tribunal of Delhi on October 16, 2025 heard a grievance application filed by an 85-year-old resident of South Extension Part-I, highlighting serious environmental and public-health concerns arising from an open garbage dump – Dhalao near AIIMS Gate No. 6 along the Ring Road. Justice and Chairperson Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr. A. Senthil Vel acknowledged the complaint as the Dhalo was built near a hospital and directed it to be closed within six months with regular monitoring by the DPCC (Delhi Pollution Control Committee).
The applicant alleged that the Dhalao generated foul odor, spillage, and air pollution due to dumping of mixed waste including commercial and medical waste in a densely populated and medically sensitive zone. The reports placed on record showed clear mismanagement while the DPCC (Delhi Pollution Control Committee) confirmed improper handling of waste, the CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) recommended closure given the site’s proximity to a major healthcare institution.The respondent no.4, MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) admitted that while Dhalao’s presence and proposed improvement plans with allocated funds of ₹15,98,600/-, the progress remained stalled and no work had begun despite a tender being issued on the matter. The applicant therefore sought closure of the facility and a ban on further dumping by the respondent no. 4 before the Tribunal.
The Tribunal noted that while the applicant claimed the Dhalao was situated 50–70 meters from AIIMS Gate No. 6 along the Ring Road and the MCD asserted it was around 180 meters away, it still remained undisputed that the garbage dump stands in the immediate vicinity of a major hospital zone. It referred to its earlier directions in Gaurav Sharma v. GNCTD & Ors. OA No. 202/2023 and Neel Mani v. SDMC & Ors. OA No. 92/2023, where it had stressed that areas around premier healthcare institutions must remain free from polluting activities, mandated daily lifting of waste, and required phased closure of Dhalaos across Delhi with suitable alternative use of the sites. Therefore the Tribunal referred to the CPBC’s SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) and found the Dhalao to be violative of the same as it was located in densely populated and near sensitive areas such as a hospital. It also noted a report filed by the CPBC dated 31.01.2025 which recommended the closure of the Dhalao and stated 970 of 1496 Dhalaos to have been shut already.Therefore, the Tribunal directed the respondent no.4 to close the Dhalao within six months and arrange a waste collection/storage and transportation at other location which does not cause public nuisance. Until the closure of the Dhalao, the Tribunal directed the DPCC was to carry out regulatory monitoring and in case of non-compliance, to take appropriate remedial actions immediately and accordingly disposed of the application.
Appearances:
For the Applicant: Adv. Ms. Sunita Bhardwaj,
For the Respondents: Ms. Puja S. Kalra & Mr. Virendra Singh, Advs. for MCD Ms. Suman Arora, Adv. for CPCB
