Himachal Pradesh High Court seeks status report on apple waste disposal

Vijay Arora

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, August 6

The HP High Court has directed the state authorities to file status report regarding the scientific management and disposal of apple waste on or before September 18.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice Satyen Vaidya passed this order. It was passed after perusing the compliance affidavit filed by the Managing Director, Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC), as well as instructions of the Regional Officer, HP State Pollution Control Board, Parwanoo, wherein the proposal for scientific management and disposal of apple waste was suggested.

The court observed that “the proposals for scientific management and disposal of apple waste mentioned in the compliance affidavit shall be implemented as far as practicable immediately since the apple procurement season has already commenced.”

It further directed the amicus curiae (court friend to assist the court) would also study the suggestions and address the court on the aspects which require modification on the next date of hearing.

In its earlier order, the court had directed the HP HPMC to inform the court what steps it had proposed for the solution of scientific management of apple waste.

The court passed this order on the Public Interest Litigation based on the news report published in The Tribune on November, 1, 2022, under the heading ‘Stench of rotten apples greet visitors entering Himachal’.

While treating this news item as a PIL, the court in its earlier order had sought response from the Solan Deputy Commissioner, State Pollution Control Board and the HPMC.

It was reported in the news item that visitors entering the state were greeted with stench emanating from trucks loaded with apples parked along the Pinjore-Parwanoo road. It was also mentioned that these trucks carrying apples packed in gunny bags were lined along the highway awaiting procurement under the Market Intervention Scheme.

It was further stated that due to high temperature, apples had started rotting while the truckers had to wait for days for their procurement under the Market Intervention Scheme. It was also reported that people were facing a harrowing time due to the foul smell, which extended few kilometres. These trucks were parked along the highway with distressed drivers bound to stay with the truck till the produce was emptied.