Rs 9.9L penalty imposed on Solan MC for improper disposal of legacy waste
The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has slapped an environmental compensation of Rs 9.9 lakh on the Solan Municipal Corporation (MC) for its consistent failure to ensure scientific disposal of legacy waste.
Deadline extended
- The penalty was imposed on September 28 for a period of 198 days from December 19, 2023, to July 4, 2024
- The legacy waste dumped at the Salogra facility was to be lifted by February end but the deadline was extended to May 14
- During an inspection of the Salogra site on June 28, 2024, SPCB officials found that there was no scientific collection, channelling and treatment facility there to prevent the leaching of waste
The waste, piled up over the years, is dumped at a shabby disposal facility at Salogra along the Kalka-Shimla national highway. Earlier, too, a penalty of several lakhs of rupees was imposed on the civic body for such a violation. “The penalty was imposed on September 28 for a period of 198 days from December 19, 2023, to July 4, 2024. The civic body is to deposit the fine within a week, failing which action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, including imprisonment up to five years would be initiated against it,” said Anil Rao, SPCB’s Regional Officer at Parwanoo.
He added that if remedial action was not taken, an additional penalty would be imposed on the civic body for the remaining period. All local bodies have been warned not to dispose of solid waste along water bodies while ensuring its proper segregation, collection and disposal, as per the directions of the High Court of Himachal.
The legacy waste was to be lifted by February end but the deadline was extended to May 14. During an inspection of the Salogra site on June 28, SPCB officials found that there was no scientific collection, channelling and treatment facility there to prevent the leaching of waste.
The inspection team found stray cattle, pungent odour and flies at the Salogra site. This pointed towards the lack of measures taken to prevent water contamination in the area.
The personal protective gear like gloves, footwear, masks and fluorescent jackets for the staff engaged in the scientific disposal of waste was also not provided.
Notices were issued to the civic body on March 7, March 30, July 2 and July 5 to ensure the compliance of norms but the violation of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, was regularly observed. The civic body was also cautioned that such a callous behaviour would invite the imposition of an environment penalty (compensation) but still a huge quantity of legacy waste was found dumped at the Salogra facility. Also, there was no leachate treatment facility there.
The civic body was directed to provide an impermeable base with facility for the collection of leachate and surface run-off into lined drains as waste was being dumped in the open. These measures were not implemented.
