Advocate volunteers to assist HC in inspecting waste disposal in Himachal ULBs

SHIMLA, Himachal Pradesh: Thirty advocate volunteers will be assisting High Court in Himachal Pradesh to issue effective and purposeful directives. These advocate volunteers would visit Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) spread across ten districts in the state to assess their use, effect and efficiency of the garbage collection and disposal systems.

The decision in this regard was issued on April 27, 2023, by the division consisting of Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Satyan Vaidya. The decision came while the court was hearing seven writ petitions and PILs submitted regarding illegally dumping solid and wet waste, including plastic waste, in rivers and other smaller streams in Himachal Pradesh.

High Court bench directed the 30 advocate volunteers proposed by the state administration to conduct a thorough inspection of the scientific disposal of solid and plastic waste, waste segregation, and pollution level in the rivers, streams and other water bodies in Himachal Pradesh. The Attorney General (AG) provided a list of advocate volunteers and promised to take all necessary actions within the next four weeks and the court will be informed on the matter accordingly. 

Next hearing will take place on September 11, 2023. The court has also asked the state administration to submit the reports prepared by the advocate volunteers one week prior to the date of hearing.

Earlier on April 6, the court observed that not only the people but the municipal corporations are also dumping waste in rivers and streams, that too on a daily basis. Apex Court in Himachal also observed that the show cause notices issued by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) under various provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, did not result in any coercive action against the culprits, whether it is authorities or individuals.

According to the court’s statement, ”It is high time that the Pollution Control Board takes some stern action, so as to ensure that the menace of violation of the environmental laws is curbed. Let suggestions in this regard be filed on or before the next date of hearing.”

It was also found during the hearing that the compliance affidavits and status reports submitted by the Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Department (HPPCB) and urban local bodies have not revealed due compliance, as per the directives passed by this court from time to time.

The Court also demanded that stringent action be taken against the individuals and civic bodies engaged in this illegal practice. Court also took cognizance of the issues in the door-to-door garbage collection exercise in Himachal Pradesh.