NGT raps Hamirpur MC for failing to clear 10,000 MT legacy waste, sets six-month deadline
Shimla, Aug 14,
National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up the Hamirpur Municipal Corporation for failing to meet its commitment to clear all legacy waste by June 30, 2025.
Despite earlier assurances, around 10,000 metric tonnes (MT) of legacy waste still lies unattended at the designated site.
During the hearing on Tuesday, the tribunal noted that the daily generation of municipal solid waste in Hamirpur is approximately 17 MT, while the treatment capacity stands at just 7.2 MT. This shortfall is leading to a continuous accumulation of waste, further aggravating the problem.
Appearing virtually, Municipal Commissioner Abhishek Garg told the bench that the legacy waste would be cleared within six months. However, the tribunal expressed concern that no concrete execution plan had been provided to ensure both the remediation of legacy waste and 100 p c processing of daily waste to prevent future backlogs.
The Principal Bench, headed by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr. A. Senthil Vel, directed the Commissioner to submit a detailed, time-bound programme for waste clearance, along with a strategy to bridge the gap between waste generation and treatment capacity.
The tribunal further ordered him to file an affidavit and a personal undertaking within two weeks, committing to the six-month deadline.
The matter would be taken up again on October 17, 2025, for further review.
This case stems from an application filed by Rita Sharma and another petitioner, highlighting the environmental hazards caused by the unchecked accumulation of municipal solid waste in Hamirpur.
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