Today, the Supreme Court raised concerns about the accumulation of untreated solid waste in Delhi and instructed the Central government to arrange a meeting to address the issue and find a resolution.

A Bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih observed that no definitive solution appears to be on the horizon until 2027 for managing the 11,000 tonnes of solid waste generated daily in Delhi.

The Court remarked that it does not "see light at the end of the tunnel" regarding solid waste management in the national capital and expressed concern that the situation could escalate into a public health emergency.

"As going by the MCD [Municipal Corporation of Delhi] affidavit and timelines therein, there are no possibilities of adequate facilities in Delhi till 2027 to treat 11,000 tonnes of solid waste in Delhi. No guesswork is needed that by then solid waste generated will multiply. It is a sorry state of affairs in the capital city and can lead to a public health emergency," the Court said.

Accordingly, the Court directed the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to convene a meeting with the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), including its Commissioner.

The Court emphasized that the meeting should address the necessary steps to prevent a potential emergency situation. Additionally, it instructed the Delhi government to review the recent proposal concerning funding and permits for solid waste management plants. The Court warned that without this permission, the MCD would be unable to comply with the regulations.

The bench was considering a case related to the worsening air quality in and around the national capital.

In May, the Supreme Court had expressed shock at the grim state of managing the increasing levels of untreated solid waste in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The Court had criticized the authorities for their indifference to an issue that directly impacts citizens' fundamental right to a clean environment. Consequently, it directed the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the municipal bodies of the NCR to convene a meeting to find solutions.

This action followed the Court's earlier observation that the city was generating approximately 3,000 tonnes of solid waste daily beyond its processing capacity.

During the resumed hearing today, the Court began by questioning the MCD's non-compliance with solid waste management regulations. Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, representing the MCD, submitted...

We have worked hard my lords."

Justice Oka remarked the MCD was not obliging anyone by following the rules.

"Do not think you are obliging anybody by trying to follow 2016 rules.'

The Court concurred with amicus curiae Aparajita Singh, noting that the situation in Delhi could lead to an emergency. The daily generation of solid waste exceeds 11,000 metric tonnes, while the capacity of waste treatment plants is only 8,073 tonnes.

"We are certain that the former figure will continue to rise gradually," it stated.

When informed that the MCD's Standing Committee was still not in place, Justice Oka remarked, "As an aside, genuine issues affecting the people are caught in the crossfire between the two."

The Court also noted that the situation in Gurugram and Faridabad was similarly dire. It added that unless strict measures are taken, the rules will not be effectively implemented.