Shimla, August 10, 2024 – The Himachal Pradesh High Court has taken a decisive step to combat plastic pollution, issuing a series of hard-hitting directives aimed at bolstering environmental conservation and solid waste management across the state. The government will buy plastic at the rate of Rs 75 that has made it a lucrative proposition for the plastic pickers.
Building on its earlier orders, the high division bench of Justices Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Sushil Kukreja has stressed the urgency of swift action from state authorities.
The training for various stakeholders has started at HIPA.
Actions Ordered by the Court:
1. Fast-Tracked Land Decision: The Shimla Divisional Commissioner has been ordered to quickly resolve the land transfer case involving petitioner Suleman, with the decision due by the next hearing.
2. Training on Waste Management: The Rural Development Department is to start training programs in Kullu, Lahaul Spiti, and Kinnaur.
These sessions, led by Advocate Deven Khanna and NGOs, will guide local officials on the court's orders, waste management laws, and setting up Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs).
3. Plastic Use Under Scrutiny:The Director of Industries must provide a complete list of companies using single-use or non-biodegradable plastic in packaging to the State Pollution Control Board. The court has demanded strict enforcement of solid waste management rules.
4. Expansion of MRFs in Shimla: The existing MRF facility at Baryal is overwhelmed, and the Urban Development Department must present a plan for new MRFs and funding for waste management by the next hearing.
5. Special Task Force Created: A Special Task Force, including members from MC Shimla, the Forest Department, and NGOs, has been set up to clean environmental hotspots like hillsides and streams.
6. Rural Areas Targeted:Deputy Commissioners in Chamba, Kullu, Kangra, Shimla, and Lahaul Spiti have been instructed to implement waste management systems with the active involvement of local bodies.
7. Focus on Religious Sites:The court has called for strict waste management enforcement at major religious sites, with pilot projects at temples like Mata Chintpurni and Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib.
8. Boost for Plastic Waste Collection: The government’s move to buy plastic waste at Rs. 75 per kg, up from Rs. 7, is aimed at ramping up collection efforts.
9. Central Agencies Involved: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Central Pollution Control Board will meet fortnightly to tackle delays in waste management projects, especially those related to the Forest Conservation Act.
The court’s latest orders are a clear signal that it’s no longer business as usual in Himachal—environmental protection and waste management are now top priorities.
