6 solid waste mgmt plants for state’s urban centres

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 2

The state government has decided to set up six solid waste management plants under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode which will cater to the requirement of a cluster of towns and cover most of the urban centres of the state.

Even though the proposal was in the pipeline, a decision was taken today at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary VC Pharka. The High Court had earlier this week passed an order directing the authorities concerned to take steps ensuring proper solid waste management and check release of industrial effluents which could pose a threat to UNESCO world heritage status of the Shimla-Kalka rail track.

“We have decided to set up six plants in Baddi, Mandi, Kangra, Chamba, Sirmaur and Hamirpur. Each plant will cost Rs 50 crore and will be set up on the cluster model so that a number of towns can be covered,” said Tarun Kapoor, Additional Chief Secretary, Forests and Environment. The solid waste management in the state is poor. Barring Shimla, there is no plant elsewhere. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had made a budgetary announcement about the setting up of these plants but now these are being given shape. “Since small plants are not viable, we have decided to go in for a cluster approach and the plant to be set up at Baddi will cater to the requirement of the entire industrial belt of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh and Parwanoo,” said Kapoor.

The State Pollution Control Board has appointed technical consultants for setting up the plants and will also provide the viability gap funding. The Himachal Pradesh Infrastructure Development Board has appointed a transaction adviser for technical advice. It is on the input of the consultants that a decision will be taken up whether to have waste-to-energy or waste-to-biogas or compost plants.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) order of November 16, where a ban was imposed on fresh constructions in the core and green areas, had also made a mention of the poor solid waste management in the state.

Each plant to cost Rs 50 crore

• The High Court had earlier this week passed an order directing the authorities concerned to take steps ensuring proper solid waste management and check release of industrial effluents which could pose a threat to UNESCO world heritage status of the Shimla-Kalka rail track.
• Six plants will be set up in Baddi, Mandi, Kangra, Chamba, Sirmaur and Hamirpur. Each plant will cost Rs 50 crore.
• The NGT, in its November 16 order, had mentioned about the poor solid waste management in the state.