Garbage row: Kullu admn identifies dumping sites

Our Correspondent

KULLU, JANUARY 13

The district administration and the Kullu Municipal Committee have identified two new sites for dumping of waste of Kullu and Bhuntar towns. Kullu SDM Amit Guleria said that Gram Sabhas were held at Bajaura and Dughilug for obtaining permission from village panchayats.

He said following the orders of the high court, new sites had been identified for dumping waste. Gram Sabha was held yesterday at Bajaura and at Dughilug today. Villagers of both the panchayats raised various objections and opposed the setting up of dumping yard in their respective areas.

The SDM said that report of proceedings of Gram Sabhas at both the areas would be submitted to the high court. The high court had directed Kullu DC to submit report of the sites identified for dumping waste on January 5. The Supreme Court had dismissed plea of Kullu MC to continue to throw garbage at waste dumping yard and biomedical waste incinerator plant in Pirdi and directed it to follow orders of the NGT.

The waste was not being dumped in the yard since January 2 as the NGT had ordered Kullu Municipal Committee on June 19, 2017, to shift the waste dumping yard which was located adjacent to the Beas. After protests by villagers of Balh, Mohal and Talogi panchayats in September last year, the Kullu MC moved the apex court to seek relief. The apex court provided time to the Kullu MC to locate new dumping yard and extended this time limit till January 2.

Kullu town produces seven tonne of waste every day. Waste disposal in a scientific manner has become a herculean task for the Municipal Committee. Kullu MC vice-president Gopal Krishan Mahant said that the MC was identifying new sites where the garbage could be disposed of.