Champawat civic body dumps waste in forest

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, June 7

Environment activists have expressed concern at mismanagement of solid waste in Champawat and Pithoragarh towns and various voluntary organisations across the Kumaon region have demanded clean environment.

According to Champawat Nagar Paliaka Parishad sources, solid waste from the town is being dumped in a nearby green forest, damaging the environment.

Moreover, this open dumping of waste by the urban body has also disturbed serenity at the government rest house and a helipad that is coming up next to it and is situated near the dumping ground of the urban body.

Morning walkers are also complaining about the open dumping of waste saying the bad smell emanating from it disturbs them and makes it difficult to walk on the lone track in the town.

“The bad smell emanating from the dumping ground at Laluapani is harming the health of walkers who go for a walk there for good health,” said LL Shah, a retired resident of the town.

Prakash Tiwari, chairperson of the Champawat Nagar Palika Parishad, said in the absence of the Executive Officer in the nagar parishad waste was being dumped in the forest though a place had been identified for the purpose three months ago. “The state government is answerable for the inconvenience caused to the people as it has not posted an Executive Officer to the Nagar Palika Paiishad for the past three months despite repeated reminders,” said Tiwari.

In Pithoragarh town, solid waste of nearly one lakh population is being dumped openly near the Nainipatal forest on the Pithoragarh-Dharchula road.

Despite objections from court, waste is neither being treated nor being trenched as the urban body has no means to do it. “We have invited tenders for the appointment of a consultant to give advice on methods of solid and liquid waste management. The consultant will prepare a detailed progress report for the purpose which will be presented before the government for the sanction of the required money. Only then we could trench solid waste from the town,” said Khimanand Joshi, Executive Officer, Pithoragarh Nagar Palika Parishad. Joshi said the government had sanctioned a 0.75 hectare for the dumping ground which could be readied only after the consultant had prepared the detailed project report.