Kullu residents irked by mounting garbage
Residents of Kullu town are expressing growing frustration with the Kullu Municipal Committee (MC) and local administration over waste management failures. Hemraj, a resident of Sarwari, highlights that despite multiple objections, the MC continues to pile garbage near Nehru Park. The accumulated waste has become an unsightly mess and a severe health hazard, with a foul odour that disrupts daily life for residents and visitors alike.
Hema, a senior resident, mentions that they had raised the issue with Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh, but the MC has remained unresponsive to community concerns. She points out that large garbage heaps along the road near the Inter-State Bus Terminus leave a negative impression on tourists entering Kullu.
Local resident Sachin notes that despite court orders, the MC and the administration have failed to allocate even 8 biswa of land required for waste management for over seven years. He emphasises the need for dedicated, comprehensive action rather than simply shifting responsibility.
Environmental activist Abhishek Rai adds that the situation has worsened in the past four months. He warns that the MC’s practice of dumping waste along the Sarwari rivulet, a Beas tributary, violates court and the NGT directives, further aggravating the town’s environmental issues.
Although MC officials claim that waste management systems are adequate, residents argue that the garbage piles tell a different story. The town generates approximately eight tonnes of waste daily across its 11 wards. While dry waste is sent to the Barmana cement plant and wet waste is managed at the Sarwari Material Recovery Facility, the accumulated wet waste remains a pressing issue.
Adding to the concerns, residents complain that door-to-door garbage collection has become inconsistent. Local resident Duni Chand warns that if a solution isn’t implemented soon, Kullu may face a “legacy waste” problem, similar to longstanding issues at the Pirdi and Rangri dumping sites.
