Legacy of neglect: Solan’s waste mountain continues to grow
The unresolved problem of legacy waste piling up at the Salogra-based waste dumping site along the Solan-Kandaghat highway continues to haunt the Solan Municipal Corporation (MC), with no significant resolution in sight despite repeated deadlines. The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has once again cracked the whip, issuing a fresh notice on July 10 for failure to comply with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
This 24-bigha site, active for over 40 years, has become a symbol of civic apathy and mismanagement. Originally meant to handle municipal solid waste, it has now become a ticking environmental time bomb due to unscientific dumping and lack of segregation. The improper handling of both fresh and legacy waste has led to widespread scattering, air pollution, foul odour and increasing concern among nearby residents.
Environmental experts warn that legacy waste, if not properly managed, can cause long-term damage. Leachate from the waste can seep into the soil, rendering land unfit for agriculture or development, while harmful gases like methane contribute to air pollution and respiratory illnesses.
In a bid to address the mounting waste, the MC had hired a contractor in December 2022, assigning the task of scientifically processing both legacy and fresh waste. However, despite a two-year extension, the contractor failed to deliver, leading the civic body to rope in a new agency — Ghaziabad-based Geron Engineering Private Limited. Officials now report that around 35 to 40 tonnes of fresh municipal solid waste is generated daily within Solan MC limits, compounding the challenge.
One of the major hurdles now being faced is the lack of storage and disposal facilities for refuse derived fuel (RDF), a byproduct of the waste processing. According to a study by the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Hamirpur, nearly 3,000 tonnes of RDF is lying unprocessed at the site. This stockpiling is further adding to local environmental hazards.
“The new contractor has started setting up the necessary equipment. We are hopeful that things will now progress faster,” said Usha Sharma, Mayor of Solan MC. But for residents living around Salogra, hope is running thin.
During a recent inspection, SPCB officials observed several lapses at the site. Fresh mixed waste was found stacked in the open, without proper segregation. Legacy waste was mixed with the daily waste and left unprocessed. Most alarmingly, the waste is stored without adequate containment, raising the risk of groundwater contamination, especially during the monsoon season. Repeated requests for a covered shed and leachate treatment facility have not been acted upon.
As a result, the SPCB’s Parwanoo regional office has issued a seven-day notice demanding immediate corrective action. The board has sought a comprehensive report detailing the total quantum of legacy and fresh waste, current processing status and measures being undertaken, including the installation of a leachate treatment facility.
Anil Kumar, Regional Officer of SPCB, Parwanoo, confirmed that failure to comply would invite strict penalties. The civic body, which had already paid Rs 9.1 lakh in environmental compensation a few months ago, now faces an additional Rs 16.35 lakh penalty for 327 days of violation (@ Rs 5,000 per day). Prosecution proceedings could also follow for persistent non-compliance.
Years of negligence have not only created a pressing environmental challenge but also drained the civic body’s coffers through repeated penalties. Whether the new agency will finally break the cycle of failed deadlines and legal notices remains to be seen—but for now, Solan’s waste mountain continues to grow, both literally and financially.
Himachal Tribune