SHIMLA: In a landmark judgement, Himachal Pradesh High Court has ordered all municipal bodies and civic authorities to put an immediate halt to the dumping of waste in rivers, streams, and rivulets across the state.
Taking Cognizance of dumping of trash and garbage by citizens and civic bodies alike and the growing slackness in the state, the Division Bench of Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Virender Singh has directed all authorities and municipal bodies to ensure the proper segregation and collection of waste in towns and to collect garbage at least thrice a day in a week.
The court has directed all concerned authorities to collect solid and wet waste separately and transport them separately by engaging specified vehicles.
It has also given all municipal authorities two weeks' time to augment their resources to comply with the order.
The responsibility of implementing this order shall be upon the concerned Commissioner(s), Municipal Corporations, Secretary Municipal Councils, Executive Officers, and Secretary Nagar Panchayats.
They all shall file their personal affidavit(s) regarding implementation of this order by the next date of hearing. the court ruled.
Furthermore, the Pollution Control Board has been directed to ensure that all the directions are implemented in letter and spirit.
They all shall file their personal affidavits.
The court was informed that the local bodies have land issues at Chopal, Nerwa, Rohru, Bilaspur, Theog, Anni, Shahpur, Chirgaon, AAmbtowns for the disposable site.
The deputy Solister General of India Bal Ram Sharma, who appeared for the respondent number 7, was asked to get specific information on these towns from the Urban Local Bodies.
The Municipal Secretaries, Members Secretary, and Regional Office shall also file the personal affidavit on the next date of hearing on 11.05.2023.
The court has also directed the Municipal Corporation to give wide publicity to the toll-free number 9805201916 through advertisements in print, news, and electronic and web media.
Additionally, the court has impleaded the Regional Office, Ministry of Environment Forest Conservation, Government of India, as party respondent, who shall figure as respondent No.7.
Toll free number help line number is for public for lodging complaints regarding the garbage dumped in hillside, roadsides, streams and rivers in the state.
