Pollution in Kushak drain: MCD puts ball in DJB court

New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has informed the National Green Tribunal that while it regularly desilted and cleaned South Delhi’s Kushak drain, controlling pollution was beyond its jurisdiction and depended on the Delhi Jal Board. The MCD stated that the foul smell or gases emitting from the drain cannot be stopped until the DJB manages to prevent sewage from flowing into the drain.
The response came after a tribunal order issued earlier this month, seeking an explanation from the DJB and the MCD on why interim compensation should not be imposed on either of the two bodies for failing to perform their duties.
The MCD stated that it was doing everything to maintain a regular flow of water. The NGT had noted that despite both bodies setting a timeline to trap most drains discharging sewage into the stormwater drain by March 31, it was still as polluted as ever. The agencies were asked to respond before the next date of the hearing, which is April 16.
In its submission dated April 12, in response to the order, the MCD said that out of the total 6.5 km length of the drain, around 3.3 km came under its jurisdiction, with around 1.1 km covered and the remaining portion of the drain open. It also said it was desilting all drains, including the Kushak drain, in two phases — the first from Jan 15 onwards and the second phase from Oct 1 onwards.
The MCD said poclain machines or excavators were used around seven times last year to remove silt and waste from the drain, while super suckers — which extract sewage and silt through pipes — were used six times last year. In portions where the drain was partially open, buckets were used to pull out silt.
The tribunal had in May last year constituted a joint committee to look into grievances raised by residents living in different parts of South Delhi, including GK-1.