The National Green Tribunal has banned the use of disposable plastic in Delhi and NCR with effect from January 1, 2017 and directed the Delhi government to take steps to reduce dumped waste. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar,<br/>however, refused to shut down the Okhla waste-to-energy plant<br/>and issued a slew of directions for its eco-friendly operation<br/>along with two other plants at Gazipur and Bhalswa. The bench said all the corporations, DDA and other public authorities including NCT of Delhi are directed to take immediate steps for reduction and utilisation of dumped waste.<br/><br/>The bench also constituted a joint inspection team comprising member secretaries of the Central Pollution Control Board and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), a senior scientist of the Ministry of Environment and Forests along with an IIT Delhi professor, directing it to file its report within six weeks and supervise and visit the plants once in two months.<br/><br/>The directions came on a plea filed by a Residents Welfare Association praying for closure of waste-to- energy plant alleging that it uses illegal mass burning technology which causes air pollution.