Ambala MC fined Rs 62 lakh for violating waste rules
The Regional Office of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has imposed an interim environmental compensation of Rs 62 lakh on the Ambala Municipal Corporation (MC) for non-compliance of municipal solid waste rules.
As per the orders, the MC is responsible and engaged in the activities of collection, transportation, segregation and processing of municipal solid waste, and for day-to-day operation and maintenance of the solid waste processing facility at Patvi village in Ambala.
The facility was found operational in an unscientific/unauthorised manner, without adopting the measures laid down under the waste management rules.
The environmental compensation of Rs 62 Lakh (Rs 1 lakh per month for the period April 1, 2020, to May 31, 2025) is imposed on the MC. The board has also asked the corporation to deposit the compensation within 15 days.
As per information, the site was visited in October last year by officials of the pollution control board, MC, and the contractor firm, Pooja Consultation. During the physical verification of the site, various shortcomings were found. Specifications laid down for sanitary landfills were not being complied with. The facility was found operational without obtaining prior consent to establish (CTE) and consent to operate (CTO) from the board, and without an environment clearance.
The MC had not applied and obtained authorisation for waste processing treatment or disposal facility, annual return of solid waste handled for previous years was not submitted, and the waste was not being managed scientifically. A huge quantity of mixed municipal solid waste was found dumped at the site.
As per the orders, the site has a capacity to treat 1,200 TPD of mixed solid waste, and 536 TPD waste is received from different urban local bodies. However, about 45,000 metric tonnes of solid waste was lying dumped.
Besides this, not maintaining the record, inadequate plantation, no regular monitoring of the ambient air quality, and no leachate treatment facility were some other shortcomings.
A pollution control board official said a show-cause notice and reminder had been issued, but no reply was received. The MC was improperly and unscientifically disposing solid waste and is liable to pay compensation.
Meanwhile, the Ambala Regional Officer of the board, Ajay Malik, said, “The MC authorities were apprised about the shortcoming and violations, and they were asked to comply with the norms and submit their action plan. In view of the non-compliances of the directions, and following the directions of the National Green Tribunal, an interim environmental compensation of Rs 62 lakh has been imposed on the Municipal Corporation.”
Haryana Tribune