High Court of H.P. today issued notice

Vijyender Sharma

Shimla September 27, 2021

 

            The High Court of H.P. today issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Member Secretary, H.P. State Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board and Deputy Commissioner, Solan in a matter pertaining to the contamination of water of Wells and Bore-Wells of the surrounding areas due to Chemical Waste  of  Shiwalik Solid Waste Management Plant set up  at Village, Majra, Nalagarh, in District Solan,. 

            A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua passed these orders on a petition taken up suo moto by the Court as Public Interest Litigation on a letter written to Chief Justice by one Joginder Singh of Village Majra in District Solan. The petitioner has alleged that Shiwalik Solid Waste Management plant was set-up in  Village Mazra, fifteen years ago after obtaining NOC from the Panchayat by misleading  it that an environment project was going to the set up there.  But, later, when Shiwalik Solid Waste Management Plant was built, the villagers came to know that hazardous chemical solid toxic waste of the different factories of Himachal Pradesh was to be  brought to this Solid Waste plant and responsibility for treating this solid waste has been entrusted to the plant.   He has alleged that for the last 15 years the solid waste is being dumped in  the ground by the aforesaid plant by covering it with soil, without proper treatment.  With passage of time, the water of natural sources, wells and bore-wells of Panchayat Mazra and the surrounding villages has become poisonous due to seepage of  chemically contaminated water of this Plant into the ground and resultantly foul smell is coming from water.  He has alleged that villagers made many complaints to Pollution Control Board as well as various other higher  authorities but till date no action has been taken against the Solid waste company.  He has alleged that due to this poisonous water,  their cattle have died and even the villagers have fallen victim to many serious diseases.   He has prayed that necessary directions for taking stringent action against the Shiwalik solid Waste Management may be issued so that they could be saved from the hazardous effect of this contaminated water and people may not face any health related issues.

            The court posted the matter after two weeks and also directed the respondents to file their replies by the next date.