Solan MC struggles with legacy waste disposal, faces rising fines

The local Municipal Corporation (MC) is yet to pay a Rs 9.10 lakh environmental penalty imposed by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) six months ago for its failure to ensure scientific disposal of legacy waste.

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The civic body has raised the issue with the SPCB’s member secretary, but has not received any relief. Meanwhile, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is hearing a public interest litigation regarding the matter, leaving the State Pollution Control Board with little choice but to issue repeated reprimands for the corporation’s failure to eliminate the accumulated waste.

The legacy waste, initially meant to be cleared by September 2023, was supposed to be disposed of under a contract awarded to M/S Suntan Life, Panchkula. The contract, which had a two-year deadline set for May 2022, covered 48,000 tonnes of accumulated waste. However, despite the passing of nearly five years, the contractor has failed to fulfill its obligations, drawing multiple notices from the State Pollution Control Board.

The waste is being transported to a bio-methanation plant in Jatwar, Haryana, for wet waste, while dry waste is being recycled into refused derived fuel for cement plants. Yet, the disposal process has faced significant delays, with the contractor granted several extensions instead of having their contract terminated for poor execution.

Notices were issued to the MC on March 7, March 30, July 2 and July 5, citing violations of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Despite these warnings, large quantities of legacy waste continues to be found dumped at the Salogra disposal facility, which lacks a leachate treatment system.

SPCB Regional Officer Anil Kumar said no significant progress had been made in waste disposal and warned of stricter measures if the situation does not improve. The MC was directed to provide an impermeable base and install a leachate collection system at Salogra, where waste has been dumped openly along the Kalka-Shimla national highway.

Despite repeated calls for action, the waste disposal issue remains unresolved, with the MC continuing to face hefty financial penalties for its negligence.