High Court Orders Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to Address Legacy Waste Crisis
Dadumajra legacy waste: You created this mess, now, clean it up: HC to MC
Hindustan Times
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The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to take immediate action to clean up the legacy waste at the Dadumajra dump site, invoking the 'polluter pays' principle. The court emphasized the need for accountability and warned of potential costs for environmental damage if the cleanup is not completed promptly.
- 01The High Court invoked the 'polluter pays' principle against the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
- 02The court criticized the MC for inadequate waste processing and shifting waste instead of properly managing it.
- 03Authorities claim 99.9% of legacy waste has been processed, but the court demands complete cleanup.
- 04The MC has faced multiple deadline extensions for waste clearance, with significant amounts still remaining.
- 05The Municipal Corporation has spent nearly ₹100 crore (roughly $12 million USD) on legacy waste processing.
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The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) to clean up the legacy waste at the Dadumajra dump site, invoking the 'polluter pays' principle due to the MC's failure to manage waste effectively. During a public interest litigation hearing, Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry criticized the MC for merely shifting waste rather than processing it properly. Amit Sharma, representing the petitioners, highlighted ongoing issues with waste management, including the transportation of waste to other areas and the lack of accountability among officials. The court was informed that 99.9% of the legacy waste has been processed, but it insisted that the MC must fully clear the site, including residual plastic waste. The MC has experienced multiple deadline extensions for waste clearance, with the first mountain of waste cleared by December 2022 and the second mountain's deadline pushed to December 2024. The MC has spent nearly ₹100 crore (approximately $12 million USD) on this cleanup effort, emphasizing the urgency to complete the task before the monsoon season.
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The court's order for the Municipal Corporation to clean the Dadumajra dump site will directly affect local residents by improving environmental conditions and reducing health hazards associated with waste.
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