HPSPCB Quick Action Against Plastic Waste Dumped Accross 70 Dumpsite

Shimla, Feb 04 – It has been brought to the attention of the H.P. State Pollution Control Board by media reports and Department of Environment, Science & Technology, GoHP that plastic waste has been dumped haphazardly across 70 dumpsites in the states. Taking prompt action in this regard, the H.P. State Pollution Control Board has directed the Urban Development Department and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department on 4^th February 2023 to take necessary action for scientific disposal of the plastic waste dumped haphazardly. The State Board has stated that the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, Rule 15, clearly stipulate the roles and responsibilities of the local authorities and village panchayats regarding scientific disposal of the solid waste produced and remediation of legacy waste sites.

The State Board, in its directions has raised the issue that at present total legacy waste to the tune of 1,90,796 tonnes is lying in ULBs namely Dharamshala, Mandi, Baddi, Solan, Kullu, Manali, Bilaspur, Una, Santokhgarh, Baijnath, Chowari, Dalhousie, Rewalsar, Sarkaghat and Hamirpur. It has observed that the progress of legacy waste remediation work in most of the above-said ULBs is sluggish and lags behind the timeline stipulated in the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

A spokesperson of the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board stated that UD & RD departments have thus been directed to strictly comply with the provisions of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 as the status of Solid Waste Management is being closely monitored by the Hon’ble NGT in OA No. 606/2018. The Board has adopted a zero tolerance policy with regard to waste management by local bodies in the state. The Chairman HPSPCB is monitoring the progress made by the authorities in this regard.