Chandigarh’s garbage processing plant at breaking point

Dadumajra plant processed less than 20% garbage it received in last 50 days, rest thrown in nearby dump; residents living in surrounding area at the receiving end due to foul smell

The solid waste management system in the city has reached a breaking point with its only garbage processing plant at Dadumajra having processed only 700 of the 3,400 tonnes of garbage it received in the last 50 days.

The dumping site at Dadumajra. Residents living in nearby areas have been complaining of diseases. (HT Photo)

The rest of the garbage (2,700 tonnes) has been thrown at the nearby dump, much to the chagrin of residents living in surrounding areas as they are complaining of an unbearable foul smell emanating from the unprocessed waste.

The city generates about 450 tonnes of garbage daily but the municipal corporation (MC) fails to lift it all, exposing its inefficient garbage collection system.

Officials of the Jaypee Group, which runs the Dadumajra processing plant, expressed ignorance about the gravity of the situation.

Plant in-charge Col KJS Sandhu (retd) said, “We are processing the garbage we receive.” When confronted as how much garbage has been processed in the last 50 days, he said, “I am not aware of it but will look into the matter.”

Despite being aware of the situation the civic body has failed to do anything on the ground.

MC joint commissioner Manoj Khatri said, “They are simply throwing the garbage in the dump, resulting in fires and causing inconvenience to residents of Dadumajra and nearby sectors. We will take up the matter during the National Green Tribunal (NGT) hearing in Delhi on Monday.”

The green tribunal had sent notices to the plant authorities and the MC seeking details about the garbage processed daily. Jaypee, whose contract for running the plant ended on March 31, had taken a U-turn saying they were ready to continue without charging processing fee (also called tipping fee). Earlier, the MC and Jaypee were at loggerheads over the issue of tipping fee that the firm was demanding.

Even as the company agreed to continue without tipping fee, it moved NGT demanding salvage value.

LOCALS COMPLAIN OF SMELL, SKIN DISEASES

Councillor Rajesh Kalia, who is a resident of Dadumajra, said, “It is shameful on part of the MC that it is not taking any action against the plant authorities. I will send a representation to MC officials and if no action is taken we will hold a massive protest.”

Kalia, however, does not represent Dadumajra as a councillor in the MC house.

Narinder Chaudhary, president, Dalit Chetna Manch, Dadumajra, said, “We fail to understand as how MC can be so insensitive towards our area. The plant workers throw 100 tonnes of garbage in the dump everyday without processing it. Residents of our area complain of stink and are suffering from skin diseases, but nothing is being done.”

QUOTES:

“It is shameful that the MC is not taking any action against the plant management. If they don’t take any action soon, we will hold a stir.”

— Rajesh Kalia, councillor and Dadumajra resident

“We are processing the garbage that we receive. I am not aware of it (how much garbage processed in 50 days) but will look into the matter.”

— Col KJS Sandhu (retd), in-charge, Dadumajra garbage processing plant

“They are throwing the garbage in the dump, resulting in fires and causing inconvenience to residents. We will take up the matter with NGT.”

— Manoj Khatri, MC joint commissioner