Controversy erupts as Kullu MC 'dumps waste' into Sarwari rivulet
The Kullu Municipal Council (MC) is facing criticism after a video went viral showing a JCB machine dumping large amounts of waste at night from the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in the Sarwari area of Kullu town into the Sarwari rivulet, a tributary of the Beas. Residents alleged that the rivulet had flooded due to incessant rains in recent days and a JCB was used to dump the waste into it.
Tonnes of waste have accumulated at the MRF site, where the garbage from the entire city has been dumped since July last year, after the Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) facility at Rangri in Manali stopped accepting waste from other areas. The heaps of waste have been mounting, and the river, in full spate, provided a convenient opportunity to get rid of the nuisance. The MC authorities, however, claimed that the MC has not thrown garbage into the river, maintaining that wet waste is being treated in the composter setup in the area, while dry waste is being sent to the Baga cement plant located on the Bilaspur-Solan border.
However, garbage has been growing by the day, causing problems for residents and those coming to the Kullu Central Mall, located at the bus stand. The heaps of garbage are not only an eyesore but also pose health risks.
While the issue of hefty environmental compensation, amounting to Rs 4.6 crore, imposed on the Manali MC in May last year for polluting the Beas through leachate discharge of untreated waste from the waste management plant at Rangri is still under litigation, the civic bodies of the district have failed to learn their lesson.
Environmentalist Abhishek Rai alleged that the Kullu MC has flouted norms and violated the orders of the NGT and the high court. He stated, “The garbage is being accumulated and dumped in the Sarwari rivulet and the NGT and the high court will be approached to address the concerns regarding the violation of previous orders.”
The residents are irked by the lackadaisical approach of the MC office-bearers and officials, who have failed to manage garbage efficiently. Despite stiff opposition from locals, the MC has converted what was once a beautiful park area into a dumping yard, and now water bodies are being polluted by the accumulated waste. They have stated that the authorities concerned should be held accountable for such gross violations, as fines have not been effective in curbing this practice.
