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A joint committee report has disclosed that waste is not being segregated or sorted at the dump site before being transported to the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation dump site on Kapurthala Road in Wariana. The report, submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on August 4, 2023, also indicates that no treatment is being applied to either new or old waste at the site.
The complaint filed by Ramesh Mahendru, President of Alfa Mahendru Foundation, regarding an illegal garbage dump emitting foul smells on the PAP flyover near the Jalandhar bypass, the Hon'ble National Green Tribunal (NGT) passed an order on 4th August 2023.
Mahendru had raised concerns about a massive garbage dump near the PAP flyover on the Choughiti bypass in Jalandhar city. The dump was not only an eyesore but was also emitting a foul smell, causing discomfort to the residents.
Jalandhar dump site concern
The order constituted a Joint Committee, comprising the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Punjab State Pollution Control Board (PSPCB), and the District Magistrate (DM) of Jalandhar, to investigate the matter and submit a report within two months.
Following the complaint, a joint team visited the affected site on October 5, 2023. They found that the waste was being removed from the site, with about 150 trucks pressed into service. Approximately 1500 tons of solid waste had been removed at the time of the visit.
The team also visited the Municipal Corporation dump site located at Wariana, Kapurthala Road, Jalandhar. The dump site, spread over 16.2 acres, has been in use for the past 30 years.
However, the team observed several alarming practices. The waste was neither being separated nor sorted before being sent to the dump site. Furthermore, no treatment of fresh waste or legacy waste was being carried out.
The vehicles transporting the waste were not covered, and none of them were compartmentalized. This lack of segregation and improper transportation of waste raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of waste management in the city.
The report estimates that the total legacy waste lying at the dump site could be around 15 lakh MT, considering the increase in daily waste generation and accumulation since 2019.
Adding to the environmental concerns, the Kala Sanghian drain is located just 400 meters away from the dump site. The team found a significant amount of waste dumped along the bank of the drain, contributing to the pollution in the drain.
Jalandhar takes action, Addresses concerns
The Deputy Commissioner of Jalandhar issued specific directives to address these issues, including the removal and remediation of waste, implementation of CCTV cameras, and collaboration with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for site fencing and plantation. The Municipal Corporation was instructed to comply with Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and take measures for the proper management of legacy waste.
The compliance report submitted to the Deputy Commissioner on 19th October 2023 outlined these actions and demonstrated the Corporation's commitment to addressing the environmental concerns raised by Ramesh Mahendru and the NGT.
The report further highlighted the ongoing challenges at the dump site, prompting recommendations from the Joint Committee. These recommendations include comprehensive risk assessments, on-site emergency plans, installation of firefighting infrastructure, and measures to prevent unauthorized access and contamination of groundwater.
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