Legal Correspondent
Shimla, September 27
The HP High Court today expressed concern over the issue of contamination of water of wells and bore-wells in surrounding areas of Majra village in Nalagarh due to chemical waste of Shiwalik Solid Waste Management Plant. It issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Member Secretary, State Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board, and the Deputy Commissioner of Solan.
The court passed theorders on a petition taken up suo moto by the court as a Public Interest Litigation on a letter written to the Chief Justice by Joginder Singh of Majra village, Nalagarh in Solan district. The court sought replies from the state authorities within two weeks.
The petitioner has alleged that Shiwalik Solid Waste Management plant was set-up in Mazra village, 15 years ago after obtaining an 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 the responsibility for treating this solid waste was entrusted to the plant.
It was alleged in the petition that for the past 15 years the solid waste is being dumped in the ground by the aforesaid plant by covering it with soil, without proper treatment. The water of natural sources like wells and bore-wells of Mazra panchayat and the surrounding villages has become poisonous due to seepage of chemically contaminated water of this plant into the ground.
It was alleged that villagers had made several 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.
Cattle die, villagers falling ill in Nalagarh
It was alleged in the petition that the Shiwalik Solid Waste Management Plant was dumping solid waste in the ground for the past 15 years without proper treatment.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service