Chandigarh ensuring 100% scientific waste disposal, tribunal told

In an affidavit and compliance report submitted before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the UT Administration has claimed full disposal of solid waste in Chandigarh.

The affidavit, submitted by Saurabh Kumar, Director of the Department of Environment, UT, highlighted how the Administration made progress in ensuring scientific treatment of sewage, efficient processing of municipal solid waste and remediation of legacy waste. The matter is related to the compliance of the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and other environmental issues. The affidavit stated that the progress made in the case is being closely monitored by the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee and regularly reviewed by the UT Chief Secretary. The current status report has been filed in compliance with the tribunal’s order dated December 12 last year.

According to the affidavit, Chandigarh generates approximately 232 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. The city now operates eight sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a combined capacity of 253.5 MLD. All waste water is being treated and no untreated sewage is being released into drains, except for Faidan village. Two new STPs are being installed at Faidan to cover the existing gap of 3.7 MLD. The first, with a capacity of 750 KLD, is expected to be completed by October 15, while a 250 KLD unit is targeted for completion by December 31.

Earlier, several STPs had faced challenges in meeting norms for total nitrogen and faecal coliform. However, after corrective measures and expert consultations, all eight STPs have consistently met the prescribed standards since June this year. Recent test results confirmed compliance with biochemical oxygen demand, faecal coliform and total nitrogen.

To ensure optimal utilisation of treated wastewater, Chandigarh is expanding its tertiary treated (TT) water distribution network.

The civil works of underground reservoirs at Raipur Kalan, Maloya and 3BRD STP have been completed and allied works like installation of machinery will be completed soon. With 80% progress already achieved, 165 km of pipelines are expected to be completed by December 31, supplying TT water to parks, roundabouts, institutional campuses, kanal houses, industrial units and roadside vegetation.

The report noted that Chandigarh generates about 500 tonnes per day (TPD) of municipal solid waste. The Administration has claimed 100% door-to-door collection in segregated categories—dry, wet, sanitary and domestic hazardous waste—through 523 GPS-enabled vehicles. Waste is routed through three material recovery facilities (MRFs) for secondary segregation before processing.

The city now has robust processing infrastructure, including a 200 TPD dry waste plant, a 300 TPD wet waste compost plant, a 100 TPD mixed waste processing unit, biomethanation facilities, horticulture waste compost pits and specialised shredders for mattresses, cloth and coconut shells. Significantly, all construction and demolition (C&D) waste is processed at a 150 TPD facility. Approximately 117 TPD of dry waste, 200 TPD of wet waste, and 104 TPD of horticulture waste are being fully processed. Compost from wet and horticulture waste is utilised in city gardens, while refuse derived fuel (RDF) is supplied to cement plants. Sanitary waste and domestic hazardous waste are being scientifically disposed of through authorised facilities.

One of the most notable achievements has been bio-remediation of legacy waste. The old 5 LMT dumpsite and the second 8 LMT dumpsite have both been remediated. At the time of installation of mixed waste processing plant and due to other technical issues, nearly 55,000 MT unprocessed waste had accumulated, which is likely to be bioremediated by November.

The reclaimed 20 acres at Dadumajra is now being utilised for waste processing facilities, with survey reports confirming an actual reclaimed area of 24.75 acres. Currently, only inerts and rejects are being sent to a new sanitary landfill designed exclusively for that purpose.

Two leachate treatment plants (LTPs) are operational at the landfill site. A new 250 KLD plant is being planned to handle excess leachate during the monsoon. Meanwhile, treated leachate is being channelised into nearby STPs or sent for further treatment at the CETP, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. The Administration claimed that no spillage was being allowed at the landfill.