Entire legacy waste not lifted, notices issued to Solan MC

Tribune News Service

Solan, August 25

Legacy waste management has become a major headache for the Solan Municipal Corporation (MC). The civic body has failed to lift the entire dump of legacy waste from its facility at Salogra village in the district though several deadlines have lapsed.

The civic body had hired a contractor in December 2022 to process the legacy waste, which was dumped over several years. The contractor was to ensure scientific disposal of the waste after processing it along with the disposal of fresh solid waste collected from areas falling under the MC jurisdiction in a time-bound manner.

This dump site has been functional for the past over 40 years. Garbage can be seen scattered at there due to gaps in dumping, segregation and scientific disposal of waste. It has also caused a foul smell in the area.

The waste was to be lifted by February end this year but the deadline was postponed to May 14. During an inspection of the Salogra site on June 28, officials of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) found that a large chunk of waste was still dumped there.

The SPCB officials observed that no leachate treatment facility was provided at the site. The waste was not fully covered and hence its leaching during the monsoon season could lead to the contamination of surface as well as ground water sources.

Also, there was no scientific collection, channeling and treatment facility at the site to prevent leaching of the solid waste. Stray cattle, pungent odour and flies were found at the site, thus pointing towards the lack of measures taken to prevent water contamination in the area.

The personal protective equipment for the staff engaged in the scientific disposal of waste like gloves, appropriate footwear, masks, fluorescent jackets, etc, was also not provided, according to the officials, who inspected the site.

Additional Municipal Commissioner, Solan, Priyanka Chandra said that the legacy waste was being lifted and 70,600 tonnes of it had been removed till date. The waste was converted into refuse-derived fuel for further use, he added.

Anil Rao, Regional Officer, State Pollution Control Board, Parwanoo, said that several show-cause notices had been issued to the civic body for the scientific management of the legacy waste but it had failed to take adequate steps to ensure compliance with the Environment Protection laws and rules.

He added that the civic body had been directed to ensure compliance with all norms at the earliest, failing which it would face action for the violation of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, besides imposition of environment compensation.

No scientific garbage collection, treatment

• The 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, officials of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) found that a large chunk of waste was still dumped there
• There was no scientific collection, channeling and treatment facility at the Salogra site to prevent leaching of waste
• Stray cattle, pungent odour and flies were found at the site, thus pointing to the lack of measures taken to prevent water contamination in the area
• The personal protective equipment for the staff engaged in the scientific disposal of waste like gloves, appropriate footwear, masks, fluorescent jackets, etc, was also not provided