SHIMLA- In a statewide anti-garbage campaign launched by HPSLSA executive Chairperson and Senior Judge in HP High Court Shri justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, as many as 109 tons of garbage and litter were collected and disposed off from over 500 identified hotspots across the state.
This has painted a pathetic picture of waste management in Himachal as to how municipal corporations, councils and other Urban Local bodies are doing their job in the state.
This has happened despite the launch of Swachh Bharat campaign by these bodies over the years in their respective towns and cities in the state.
"Even in Shoghi, a gateway to the state capital, a JCB machine was used to remove tons of dumped garbage there".
Garbage was cleared from riverbanks, streams, forest areas, clogged culverts, streets, parks, and tourist spots. In some places, NGOs, self-help groups, and women volunteers, especially in Kinnaur and Chamba Districts, joined the drive", informed Prem Pal Ranta, member-secretary, HP state legal services Authority(HPSLSA).
Where and how the waste was disposed off?
1. Single Use Plastic (Dry Waste): Single-use plastic is compressed using a baling machine at the processing site. After compression, it is transported to ACC Cement Plant Barmana and Kandrori Plastic Processing Plant for scientific disposal.
2. Wet Waste: Wet waste, which includes food scraps and organic materials, is processed through an Organic Waste Composter Machine installed at the processing site. This process generates compost that can be used for gardening and agriculture.
3. Other Dry Waste: Items other than single-use plastic are segregated and kept in the Material Recovery Facility. Registered rag pickers or "kabadiwalas" then collect this waste for disposal.
4. E-Waste: Electronic waste, or e-waste, is collected and stored at the Hazardous Waste Collection Centre. It is then handed over to authorized pickers for proper and scientific disposal.
To address plastic waste specifically, partnerships have been established with tile makers and cement factories.
Plastic waste is sent to Nandita Plastic Recycling in Kandrori, where it is utilized for making tiles. Some plastic waste is also sent to cement factories like ACC Cement Plant Barmana and Ultratech Cement Factory for appropriate disposal.
These measures ensure that waste is managed responsibly and processed in an environmentally friendly manner, minimizing its impact on the surroundings.
Shri Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan had initiated an Awareness-cum-Sensitization Drive on May 18, 2023.
The drive aimed to create legal awareness among sanitary workers and officials of municipalities, local bodies, pollution control boards, forest departments, NGOs, SHGs, and other stakeholders about maintaining a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental duty.
This drive was conducted in 61 urban civic bodies, involving more than 3,150 sanitary workers and over 1,500 officials from these bodies, stakeholders, and institutions including NGOs.
The campaign received tremendous support and cooperation from all participants. Furthermore, a Community Clean-up Drive will commence on June 1, 2023, under the guidance of Honorable Shri Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan.
This drive will involve Gram Panchayats, Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals, Anganwari workers, self-help groups, NGOs, social organizations, and volunteers. Awareness for this drive will be spread through various means, including virtual platforms. Para Legal Volunteers deployed in Village Legal Care and Support Centers will mobilize stakeholders and the public to participate in the drive on World Environment Day, June 5, 2023.
The Community Clean-up Drive will focus on cleaning Panchayat offices, village community centers, Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandal Bhawans, Anganwaris, senior citizen centers, as well as picking up junk and trash from village streets, temples, playgrounds, and vacant areas.
It will also involve cleaning water resources such as wells, ponds, water bodies, and water tanks. The target is to cover all Panchayats in the state, Ranta said.
The Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority expresses gratitude to the print and electronic and digital media for their cooperation and support in making the National Lok Adalat a resounding success.
