Strictly enforce waste mgmt rules at Mansarovar site: NGT

Jaipur: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Central Zone Bench, Bhopal, has directed Jaipur Municipal Corporation Greater (JMC-G) to strictly enforce the Solid Waste Management (SWM) rules after hearing a petition alleging illegal operation of a garbage transfer station near Fun Kingdom Road in Mansarovar.

The petition, filed by residents of SFS Colony and nearby areas, alleged that an open garbage depot operating on Rajasthan Housing Board (RHB) land near RIICO Industrial Area had become a major source of pollution and health hazards since 2021.

Residents raised concerns over possible groundwater contamination, foul smell, bird menace and aviation safety risks due to the site’s proximity to Jaipur International Airport.

A joint committee constituted by the tribunal inspected the site and reported that the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) transfer station has been functioning since 2018 on nearly 12,000 square metre between the Dravyawati river and RIICO area.

The report reads, “Around 200 metric tonnes of waste from Mansarovar and Sanganer zones are brought daily through nearly 85 hopper vehicles before being transported to the waste-to-energy plant at Langariyawas.”

The committee found several deficiencies at the site, including absence of impervious lining to prevent leachate seepage, lack of boundary wall, no fire safety arrangements and no authorisation under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. It also noted the presence of nearly 50 temporary shelters occupied by waste workers and ragpickers.

The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) had also issued a show-cause notice to the civic body over violations of the Water Act, Air Act and SWM rules.

However, JMC argued that the site is only a temporary transfer station and not a dumping yard. It informed the tribunal that waste is shifted daily to processing facilities at Langariyawas and Sewapura and that no waste is retained overnight.

An official said, “The corporation submitted that a 300 TPD (tonnes per day) mechanised transfer station under the CITIIS 2.0 sustainable urban infrastructure programme has been proposed through Jaipur Smart City Limited. Construction of a boundary wall and impervious flooring is currently underway.”

The Central Ground Water Board, after testing water samples from a nearby PHED water tank through a NABL-accredited laboratory, informed the tribunal that all major parameters were within BIS drinking water standards except marginally high nitrate levels, and no conclusive evidence of groundwater contamination was found.

The tribunal also noted that no incidents of open burning of waste were reported at the site.

Disposing of the application, the NGT directed municipal authorities to ensure scientific disposal of legacy waste within a fixed timeframe and implement SWM Rules in “letter and spirit”.

It issued directions to manufacturers and brand owners regarding disposal and recycling responsibilities for plastic packaging, sanitary waste and other disposable products.