Field inspections of MRF waste management
2 min read
Shimla, April 09 – Apoorv Devgan (IAS) Member Secretary, Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board conducted field inspections of MRF (Material Recovery Facility) waste management site at Khoksar of Lahul Block of District Lahaul Spiti in Himachal Pradesh along with the SDM Keylong, Regional Officer of State Pollution Control Board Regional Office Kullu and Shri Pradeep Sangwan founder and promoter of M/s Healing Himalayas today on 9th April 2023. Pradhan of Khoksar Panchayat, Up-Praddhan of Sissu Panchayat also remained present throughout the inspections. The Member Secretary directed the authorities to expedite the transfer of MRF site in favour of concerned Panchayat so that the MRF facility is developed at the earliest. Second inspection was carried out in and around tourist facilities at the Sissu Helipad. With the start of tourist season, the Khoksar and Sissu areas are witnessing heavy influx of tourists, consequently more commercial establishments and increasing floating population since the opening of Atal Tunnel on the Manali-Leh highway. There is a huge spurt in waste generation, which require scientific disposal. Currently, one vehicle of SADA transports the garbage from Lahaul valley to the Manali waste treatment plant located at Rangri. Further, there were complaints that the practice of throwing litter into the Chandra and Bhaga rivers are rampant, posing a threat to the riverine ecology of Lahul valley.
Keeping above in mind, the Member Secretary, along with the above team, inspected cleanliness and littering along tourist facilities in Khoksar and Sissu Panchayats and issued several directions. It was directed to conduct cleanliness drive within one month to clear the litters in and around tourist facilities and undertake mass awareness activities among tourists, local public and commercial establishment especially among Dhabas regularly so as to keep the area clean and persuade them to segregate their wastes for its scientific disposal. He further stressed upon the need to launch special drives to create awareness among all stakeholders to keep the valley clean. The Member Secretary directed all stakeholders to inculcate segregation of waste in their behaviour for effective waste management. He further directed to enforce the ban on identified single use plastic (SUP) items strictly, which is effective since 1st July 2022, which otherwise was found satisfactory in the valley. The team also confiscated some items of SUP from local commercial establishments as well. It was heartening to note that local people and commercial establishments have started using bio-degradable cutleries, cups in their day to day life. At last, the Member Secretary gave directions to the local authorities to impose fine, if necessary, on tourists as well as local residents for littering the tourist places.
