Recently, the Ridge Management Board, backed by the Supreme Court, decided to form an expert committee to consider the proposition of disposing inert waste in Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary’s mines in Delhi. This decision has propelled the issue of inert waste management into the limelight, prompting further investigation into what exactly inert waste is and wether it poses a risk to the environment if dumped in large quantities.
Understanding Inert Waste
Inert waste, as the name suggests, is waste that does not respond to biological or chemical processes and decomposes very slowly, if at all. This category of waste can include materials like metal, wood, bricks, masonry, cement concrete, asphalt concrete, tree branches, bottom ash from coal-fired boilers, and waste coal fines from air pollution control equipment. Although these wastes generally pose no threat to the environment, animal health or human health, they can become problematic if accumulated in large amounts due to their immensity and longevity.
Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary and Its Eco-Sensitive Zone
The Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary is an eco-sensitive zone that stretches over 32.71 sq km area on the Southern Delhi Ridge of Aravalli hill range, one of the oldest mountain systems globally, along the Delhi-Haryana border. The sanctuary exhibits vast floral and faunal diversity, including a wide variety of trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, dragonflies, and around 200 species of resident and migratory birds. Activities such as commercial mining, setting up industries, and major hydro-electric projects are strictly prohibited in this area due to its ecological significance.
Furthermore, the wildlife habitats within the sanctuary also serve as a water recharge zone for Delhi, Faridabad, and Gurugram. Hence, closely guarding the sanctuary from harmful activities is crucial.
The Role of Ridge Management Board
Commissioned by the Supreme Court in the M.C. Mehta case 1987, the Delhi Government established the Ridge Management Board to secure the Delhi Ridge. Spanning around 35km, this northern extension of the Aravalli Range is often referred to as the green lungs of the capital. The board was formally established on 6th October 1995, with the Chief Secretary of Delhi as the Chairman and the Head of the Forest Department of Delhi Government acting as its Member Secretary. The Board also has members from Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs).
Over the years, the board, backed by various government orders, has upheld a ban on all construction within the Ridge to ensure its preservation. With this latest move to constitute an expert committee to explore inert waste dumping in the mines of the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, the Ridge Management Board once again underscores its commitment to maintaining the delicate ecological balance of the region.
