The Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has issued a show-cause notice, proposing to impose a fine of Rs 31.80 lakh on the Municipal Council (MC), Manali, for “discharging untreated leachate” into the Beas River. This action is in response to the violation of provisions outlined in the Water Act, 1974 and the “Solid Waste Management Rules framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986”.
It is the responsibility of the local authorities to manage and treat municipal solid waste scientifically under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
As per a report of the HSPCB’s regional office, dated 10 January, it was found that the analysis of the samples of leachate generated from the legacy waste site under MC Manali on 28 October 2022, 5 January 2023, 27 January 2023, 22 March 2023, 12 June 2023, and 11 September 2023, indicated that the “waste water is not meeting the prescribed standards for leachate”.
Earlier, during a personal hearing of Executive Officer, MC Manali, on 20 October 2022, before Member Secretary, HPSPCB, it was directed that ETP should be made functional so that the untreated leachate is not discharged in the vicinity of the river and leachate collection pits may also be constructed.
“It is sufficiently clear that you are not complying with the repeated directions issued by the state board and, as such, environmental compensation amounting to Rs 31.80 lakh is proposed to be imposed on you for violation of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, for the said period with effect from 28 October 2022 to 11 September 2023,” the show-cause notice issued by HSPCB Member Secretary Anil Joshi, dated January 24, said. The local body of Manali has been given seven days for a reply.
The solid waste management site is located in village Rangadi, gram panchayat Shallen, Manali.
The latest inspection of the site was conducted on 3 January 2024. As per the submission of the HPSPCB before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 24 January, heaps of fresh mixed waste were found at the site during the inspection. A lot of legacy waste was also found at the site, which is required to be processed scientifically.
It was further observed that compost pits provided at the facility were filled with mixed waste and the biomethanation facility and biocomposter were not provided despite repeated directions issued by the HPSPCB.
“The retaining wall provided around legacy waste towards the Beas River was found damaged near Gau-Sadan and waste was found overflown towards the banks of the river due to over stacking of fresh waste over legacy waste site. The leachate collection pits which were earlier provided by the facility have been washed away during the flash floods and the leachate was found flowing into the Beas River without any treatment,” submitted Sunil Sharma, Regional Officer, Kullu, HSPCB, before the NGT.
He added, “The ETP provided at the site was found dysfunctional despite various notices issued by the HPSPCB from time to time.”
Earlier, the HPSPCB had imposed environmental compensation of Rs 5 lakh on MC Manali on 17 June 2021, for improper management of solid waste, and subsequently Rs 15.30 lakh on 10 May 2023, for “discharge of untreated leachate into the Beas River” and “not meeting the prescribed standards for leachate”.