SC declines Kullu MC plea to extend deadline for finding new dumping site

Our Correspondent

Kullu, December 30

The Supreme Court has dismissed the Kullu Municipal Committee’s plea seeking extension of time for disposing of garbage at the dumping yard and biomedical waste incinerator plant in Pirdi. Now, the waste of Kullu and Bhuntar will not be dumped in the yard after January 2. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had ordered the Kullu Municipal Committee on June 19, 2017, to shift the dumping yard, located adjacent to the Beas.

Residents of Balh, Mohal and Talogi panchayats had launched an agitation on September 15 and since then there has been no waste disposal at the yard. The administration had imposed Section 144 in the area, but the villagers were relentless and stood firm on their demand. The Kullu Municipal Committee was able to get relief from the Supreme Court, which gave it four weeks’ time to identify a new site for dumping garbage. The dumping was again started in the incinerator plant after October 3. Later, the apex court extended the time and gave eight weeks to the civic body. The period ends on January 2 and the MC again approached the apex court seeking more time. But the plea was dismissed and the court ruled that orders of the NGT would imply after the expiry of relief period provided to the Kullu MC.

Kullu MC vice-president Gopal Krishan Mahant said the MC had identified three new sites to set up the dumping yard, but the panchayats of those areas had denied providing an NOC for the same. He added that the MC was also identifying new sites.