DC order no deterrent as plastic waste piles up in Bahadurgarh

The recent Deputy Commissioner (DC) orders notwithstanding, plastic waste continues to be dumped on government land at various locations in Bahadurgarh area of the district.

Swinging into action, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, the Municipal Council and the police conducted a joint inspection in the Chhotu Ram Nagar area. The team found plastic waste piled up on panchayat land.

“No unit was found operational near the dumping site. It means that the plastic waste was brought here from elsewhere. As per information, government land is being used to store the waste, which is later sold off. This is a clear violation of the DC’s order. Moreover, the waste sometimes also catches fire, causing serious environmental hazards,” said an official not wishing to be named.

The official added that it was the responsibility of the government office or official concerned to prevent such activities on their designated land.

HSPCB's Bahadurgarh Regional Officer Shailendra Arora said a show-cause notice had been served to the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) for failing to prevent dumping of the illegal waste on panchayat land. “The BDPO has been given 15 days to respond. Further action will depend on the reply,” he added.

Three days ago, DC Swapnil Ravinder Patil issued prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 against the illegally operated PVC markets and unauthorised dumping of plastic waste in the Bahadurgarh area.

According to the order, the illegal dumping of plastic waste at various locations in Bahadurgarh poses a serious threat to public health and adversely affects the quality of life due to air and water pollution.

“The unauthorised dumping or unloading of plastic waste at any location within the limits of Jhajjar district will remain strictly prohibited. The responsibility for the enforcement of these orders will lie with the concerned authorities. Anyone found violating these orders will face punitive action under Section 223 of the BNS 2023,” the order read.