Chandigarh chief secy reviews status of solid and liquid waste mgmt compliance

Chief secretary Rajeev Verma on Thursday reviewed the status of solid and liquid waste management compliance in the case pertaining before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the matter 'Compliance of Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2016 and other Environmental Issues'.
During the meeting, chief secretary was briefed about the status of waste water generation and its treatment. Performance of all the sewage treatment plants (STPs) was reviewed and it was informed that Chandigarh has a capacity of approx 255 megalitres per day (MLD) against the generation of approx 232 MLD. MC commissioner Amit Kumar explained the steps taken by the civic body to ensure performance of the STPs to meet the norms and to check the discharge of untreated water into choes.
It was informed that approx 500 TPD waste is being generated in Chandigarh, which the MC collects through door-to-door collection in specially compartmentalised vehicles, and the same is being processed by the civic body completely. Arrangements are being made to speed up the bio-remediation work and to complete the same before the monsoon. It was informed that Leachate, which is being generated in a landfill site, is being treated through two nos. of Leachate Treatment Plants (LTP).
Chief secretary directed that all the works should be completed as per the timeline given to NGT and concerned departments should ensure that no untreated waste water is released into choes/drains and no solid waste should be dumped anywhere in Chandigarh, including the choes, failing which action would be initiated against the concerned official. MC should ensure complete segregation of waste and in case of non-compliance fine should be imposed on defaulters. It should also be ensured that no burning of waste should take place anywhere in Chandigarh.
The meeting was attended by Mandip Singh Brar, secretary environment and local government; Diprava Lakra, finance secretary; Saurabh Kumar, director environment; Amit Kumar, MC commissioner; Anoop Soni, Conservator of Forests.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Hindu

16 hours ago

• The Hindu

Illegal sand mining along Yamuna banks continues unchecked, says Congress leader

Former Haryana Minister and senior Congress leader Karan Dalal has written to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), flagging what he described as 'ongoing illegal and unrestrained sand mining operations along the banks of the Yamuna', particularly in the districts of Palwal, Faridabad, Sonipat, and Yamuna Nagar. He urged the Tribunal to initiate 'urgent, firm, and exemplary action against all individuals and entities involved'. In a detailed nine-page letter, Mr. Dalal alleged that 'a systematic and large-scale plunder of the Yamuna riverbed' was under way, allegedly 'orchestrated by a powerful, well-organised and influential sand mining mafia operating with blatant impunity'. He contended that these illegal activities constituted a direct violation of environmental and legal provisions, as well as the binding orders, rules, and guidelines of the Supreme Court and the NGT. These, he said, 'strictly prohibit such unregulated and ecologically destructive mining practices'. The letter further alleged that unauthorised excavation was being carried out well beyond approved zones. 'River boundary pillars have been deliberately removed to erase demarcations, and heavy earth-moving machinery is being deployed midstream, leading to unregulated deep excavation,' it said. This, Mr. Dalal added, had resulted in the creation of hazardous deep pits in the riverbed, which were continually exploited for illegal sand extraction. Citing several instances, Mr. Dalal claimed that multiple departments, the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee, and the NGT had already noted violations across the affected districts. 'Despite repeated protests by local residents and environmental activists, only cosmetic actions are taken — such as the registration of a few FIRs, seizure of vehicles, imposition of token fines, or isolated 'special raids' — while the core structure of corruption and the mining mafia remains untouched and fully operational,' he said. Referring to specific data, Mr. Dalal pointed out that between January 2024 and March 2025, 117 FIRs were registered in Palwal alone, resulting in the seizure of approximately 188 vehicles. 'However, instead of initiating robust legal proceedings or dismantling the network, a mere fine of ₹7.48 lakh was imposed to cover up the issue, resulting in the illegal sand mining continuing unabated,' he noted.

Business Standard

a day ago

• Business Standard

Amit Shah a disgrace to the post once held by Sardar Patel: Jairam Ramesh

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Friday launched a direct attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of failing to "bring the terrorists who carried out the brutal terror attacks in Pahalgam to justice," and restoring peace in Manipur. "Amit Shah is a disgrace to the position once held by the indomitable Sardar," claimed Ramesh. "The Union Home Minister has failed singularly in bringing the terrorists who carried out the brutal terror attacks in Pahalgam to justice. These terrorists had reportedly also been involved in terror attacks at Poonch (Dec 2023) and at Gagangir and Gulmarg (Oct 2024)," his post said. "The Union Home Minister has failed miserably to restore even a semblance of peace and normalcy in Manipur. All that he has accomplished is to provide guaranteed employment to his son. Now the Union Home Minister makes the most ridiculous of statements. Millions of Indians each speak more Indian languages - in addition to English - than him. He is a disgrace to the position once held by the indomitable Sardar," said the post from Ramesh. Ramesh called the visit a "publicity-driven exercise" that fails to address the ground realities of the state. "The advertisement-loving Prime Minister is once again on a tour of matter how many fake announcements the Prime Minister makes, no matter how many ribbons he cuts for free advertising, the truth is that the double engine government in Bihar has completely failed to meet the expectations of the common people," his post read. "In Bihar, oppression against the deprived classes is at its peak, the law and order situation is extremely bad, criminals have become unbridled and the common citizens are helpless. Every day there are reports of murder, robbery and violence against youth do not have any employment in the state and they are forced to migrate from Bihar," he said. "During this visit, the Prime Minister will also express his electoral concern about the pollution of Mother Ganga .But the truth is that in the last 11 years, 'Ganga cleansing' has become just an election slogan, which is suddenly remembered before every election. Not only in Bihar, Mother Ganga has become more polluted than before in the entire country. Most of the schemes launched in the name of Ganga cleanliness campaign have proved to be a black hole of corruption-After the foundation stone laying, inauguration and heavy publicity, neither any work is visible nor any concrete National Green Tribunal (NGT) itself is exposing the terrible condition of Ganga pollution in Patna and Bihar," added Ramesh.

The Hindu

2 days ago

• The Hindu

In last 11 years, cleaning Ganga has become election jumla: Congress

The Congress claimed on Friday (June 20, 2025) that the Centre and the Bihar government have not fulfilled their promise of cleaning the Ganga and said in the last 11 years, the exercise of ridding the river of pollutants has become just an "election jumla". Also Read | Why Clean Ganga project has a long way to go Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh claimed that not only in Bihar, "Mother Ganga" has become more polluted than ever before throughput its stretch. "Most of the schemes launched in the name of Ganga cleanliness campaign have proved to be a black hole of corruption. After the foundation-stone laying, inauguration and heavy publicity, neither any work is visible nor any concrete result," he alleged in post in Hindi on X. Mr. Ramesh's attack came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in line with his commitment to the conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga, inaugurated six sewage treatment plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange project, worth over Rs 1,800 crore. Mr. Ramesh said, "The advertisement-loving prime minister is once again on a tour of Bihar. No matter how many fake announcements the prime minister makes, no matter how many ribbons he cuts for free advertising, the truth is that the double-engine government in Bihar has completely failed to meet the expectations of the common people." The Congress leader claimed that oppression against the deprived classes is at its peak in Bihar, the law-and-order situation is extremely bad, criminals have become unbridled and the common citizens are helpless. Everyday, there are reports of killings, robberies and violence against women, he claimed. There is no employment opportunity for youngsters in the State, and they are forced to migrate from Bihar, the former Union minister said. "During this visit, the prime minister will also express his electoral concern about the pollution of Mother Ganga. But the truth is that in the last 11 years, 'Ganga cleaning' has become just an election jumla, which is suddenly remembered before every poll," he added. Also Read | Ganga water was fit for bathing during Maha Kumbh: Government tells Parliament The National Green Tribunal (NGT) itself is exposing the terrible condition of Ganga pollution in Bihar, Mr. Ramesh said. The Congress accused the BJP-led Centre and the JD(U)-BJP government in Bihar of not fulfilling their promise of purifying the Ganga and claimed that the condition of the river is such that its water is neither drinkable nor suitable for bathing. Addressing a press conference, party MP Manoj Kumar cited a report to claim that of the 13 STPs built for the Ganga and its tributaries in Bihar, only seven are working. He said the promise made to purify the Ganga water under the "Namami Gange" project has turned out to be false. "Narendra Modi and (Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar together neither took any step towards flood control nor made the Ganga water drinkable. Even the NGT imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the Bihar government," he claimed. Mr. Kumar said that due to the high amount of faecal coliform (FC) bacteria, the NGT has stated that the river's water is neither fit for drinking nor for bathing.