Chandigarh's waste management faces institutional neglect

Even as the UT Administration recently filed an affidavit and submitted a compliance report before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), claiming full disposal of the waste generated in the city, the ground reality is different.

The municipal solid waste generated in the city, around 500 tonnes a day, is not being managed well due to institutional neglect. The Municipal Corporation (MC) lacks a unified command for the management of solid waste. There is no dedicated expert staff to deal with solid waste management.

RK Garg, a social activist, said the collection and transportation of waste were handled by the Medical and Health (MOH) wing, whereas the Engineering Department managed the processing, treatment and landfill operations. “There is no integrated coordination mechanism to ensure that segregated waste is systematically directed to the proper processing units,” he said.

The MC has just one sanctioned post of Executive Engineer (solid waste management), leaving the entire system to function through officers holding additional charges. Outsourced junior engineers exacerbate the chain of command with lack of continuity and institutional mechanism.

Garg said the MOH wing was not expert in solid waste management while the engineering officials assigned the work belonged to road wing and other sections.

Machinery for dry waste processing has not been overhauled in years. Wet waste processing procedures are outdated and incapable to cope with current volumes. Horticulture waste management lacks consistent strategy or custodianship. The Dadumajra landfill (dumping site) is managed by the MOH with negligible technical oversight.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the worsening situation at the Dadumajra dumping site, the NGT issued notices to the MC and the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) in August this year. The notices were issued after rain led to leachate, a hazardous liquid formed when rainwater mixes with decomposing waste, spilling onto adjacent roads, into nearby fields and entering Patiala Ki Rao choe, posing a serious threat to both the ecosystem and public health.

Though bio-remediation of legacy “mountains” of waste has been underway, the completion has been repeatedly delayed. Two dumps have been remediated and the third (1.25 lakh metric tonnes) is currently being processed. The door-to-door segregation is yet to start in colonies and villages and markets areas.

In its recent report to the MC, the CPCC had pointed out glaring lapses in the functioning of the waste processing plant. MP Manish Tewari too raised questions in the parliament about the city’s waste management. The UT Chief Secretary also convened high-level review meetings, directing strict compliance with NGT mandates and issuing timelines for completing pending works.

Ajay Jagga, member of the UT Administrator’s Advisory Council, has urged the MC to spend the recently released Rs 125 crore judiciously to remediate waste, improve civic infrastructure and cleanliness in the city.