HP pollution board fails to ascertain source of waste in Ashwani Khud
Panel says will forward report to the green tribunal
Ten days after a video showing heaps of plastic waste flowing in Ashwani Khud went viral on social media, Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board's findings reveal that the trash and plastic waste is being dumped in nullahs in the river catchment.
State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) had constituted a sevenmember panel to ascertain the veracity of the video footage that showed enormous plastic waste flowing in the Ashwani Khud that originates from Shimla catchment area— 7 kilometres from main town.
However, the committee have not been able to ascertain the exact spot from where the plastic waste flowed into the rivulet, which is the main source of drinking water for Solan town.
“We have not been able to figure the exact spot from where the plastic waste emanated. The SPCB team visited different nullahs, it noticed plastic waste flowing with rain water. On July 10, Shimla recorded 10 millimeters of rain, the highest rainfall in last one decade,” says Surinder Shandil, environmental engineer of SPCB who also heads the panel.
The team will submit its report to the SPCB that will forward it to the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The green court had taken suo-motu cognisance of the video. The team also found carcasses of animals dumped in some of the nullahs.
It has been learnt that the team members recorded statements of Neri village residents, it is the same village where an eatery shop owner had shot the video. The villagers, reportedly complained about the plastic waste flowing in the river was a routine but the trash inflow is more during the rainy season.
“There are nearly 60 small nullahs along the khud. The 45 seconds video grab was shot downstream Neri village. the plastic flow was more,” said Abhay Sharma.
The team found that trash was flowing in nullah of Shimla sanctuary that is down the famous tourist spot Kufri. The sanctuary that spreads in 951 acres in Shimla is a big draw to nature enthusiast. Trash littered by the tourists on the National Highway 22 flows down in nullahs during the rainy season.
The report also states that Shimla towns Combermere nullah has turned into a dump yard. Besides, it indicated that trash from the landfill site could be still flowing into the khud. The team also raised suspicion about trash being brought from Solan to Shimla town for treatment could be dumped in nullahs along Ashwani Khud. “The video has raised fresh concern for the environmentalists. Pollution caused due to solid waste is emerging as a huge threat for Himachal's landscape particularly rivers. Untreated waste dumped in nullahs flows down the river,” says Manshi Asher, a member of Himdharaa, a state-based environment research and action collective.
Till 2015, Ashwani Khud used to supply water to Shimla town as well. But the supply was suspended after contamination from sewage treatment plant led to a jaundice outbreak in Shimla. As many as 34 persons died and scores of people were taken ill during the outbreak.
When the water crisis hit Shimla in May this year, the government drew a long-term plan and decided to use the water from Ashwani Khud for drinking water supply in Shimla.
Of the total 304 metric tonne of waste generated on a daily basis, 54 metric tonne is generated from Shimla alone.
Some waste generated is treated at the energy plant in Bharyal while a large portion of it is dumped in nullahs.