Himachal civic bodies littering rivers and water streams: High Court Shimla
Taking strong note of the rising pollution across the various river banks in the state, the Himachal Pradesh Pradesh High Court has passed an order that civic bodies should not dump civic waste in the water bodies.
Hearing volleys of writ and public interest petitions this order was passed by the division bench of Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Virender Singh recently.
The court directed the concerned municipalities and Semi-urban bodies through its Commissioner(s) and top officials to implement the order within two weeks and file its compliance in the court.
All Mincipal Secretaries and Member secretaries and Regional officers of the State pollution control board are to ensure implementation of directions in its letter and spirit and file their personal affidavits on the next hearing on May 11, 2023.
The copy of the order available on the Himachal Pradesh High Court website says that the bench observed that apparently, it is not only the citizens but even the municipal bodies (who) are dumping waste in rivers, streams, rivulets, etc.
“This practice needs to be stopped immediately, the HC passed an order that no dumping of any material waste or debris in any of the rivers, streams, or rivulets should be in the state.” 5 paged order said.
Terming door-to-door collection of garbage in the various towns of the state including Shimla a serious issue, the court said that though households try to segregate the dry and wet waste same is stuffed in a single sack without segregating during collection by the civic bodies also immediately needs to be stopped. The Court instructed all concerned to collect and transport the civic waste separately also engaging specified or compartmentalized vehicles for the purpose.
Cautioning civic bodies court said that it was informed that the garbage is not being collected on day to day basis, and needs to be addressed as a very serious matter.
The bench directed respondents to ensure that collection of garbage, door-to-door daily or at least thrice a day in a week, where it is presently not being collected on a daily basis.
Since many civic bodies dumping sites are waiting for approval and FCA clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment Forest Conservation, Court also impleaded the Government of India as a party.
