Ensure daily clearance of waste at Jhuriwala, make Alipur facility functional, says NGT

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Municipal Corporation, Panchkula, to ensure that waste deposited at the Jhuriwala site is cleared on a daily basis. The tribunal also instructed the civic body to expedite the completion and operationalisation of its new material recovery facility (MRF) at Alipur village.

The matter was heard by the Principal Bench of the NGT, New Delhi, comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson) and Dr A Senthil Vel (Expert member), in Original Application No. 4/2022 — Sanjay Kumar versus Union of India and Others.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel raised concerns over the continued use of the Jhuriwala site as a waste transfer point, alleging that garbage remained unlifted for up to four days at a stretch, spreading foul odour and leading to environmental degradation and public inconvenience.

Responding to submissions, counsel for the Panchkula Municipal Corporation informed the Tribunal that the legacy waste at Jhuriwala village had already been cleared and that the site was being used temporarily as a transit point until the Alipur village MRF became operational. The counsel further submitted that nearly 95 per cent of construction work at the Alipur village MRF had been completed, with only procedural formalities pending before the higher authorities.

After considering submissions, the Bench disposed of the matter with specific directions to the Municipal Corporation to ensure that waste at Jhuriwala village was cleared daily and that no garbage accumulation takes place at the site. The Bench also expressed hope that the MRF at Alipur village would be completed “expeditiously” and that the Jhuriwala site would cease to be used as a transfer station once the new facility becomes operational.

Interestingly, an inspection of the Jhuriwala transfer station by the Mayor, accompanied by councillors and municipal officials, today revealed heaps of accumulated waste in the background — suggesting that the garbage had not been lifted for at least two to three days, contrary to the daily clearance assurance given before the Tribunal.

While the petitioner had sought a time-bound directive for compliance, the Tribunal refrained from prescribing any specific deadlines. The official order, issued on October 27, emphasised on the need for immediate action by the civic authorities to prevent recurring waste mismanagement in Panchkula.