14 hours ago
UT races against time to clear Dadumajra dump before NGT hearing
Chandigarh: With the clock ticking and monsoon clouds looming, the Chandigarh municipal corporation has pledged to clear the third garbage dump at the Dadumajra dumping site by the end of July — a task that has already missed multiple deadlines and now carries the weight of a looming National Green Tribunal (NGT) hearing in September.
At the heart of the issue lies a mountain of waste — 1.25 lakh metric tonnes, to be precise — sprawled across the Dadumajra site. The cleanup, estimated to cost Rs 10 crore, has been repeatedly delayed, with the rains proving to be the biggest spoiler. "Once it rains, the waste becomes waterlogged and heavy, making it nearly impossible to move. It takes days just to resume operations," said an MC official on the condition of anonymity.
The urgency was palpable during a high-level review meeting chaired by the UT chief secretary. Senior officials from the MC and Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) gathered to assess progress on NGT-related issues, with Dadumajra dump dominating the discussion.
"This isn't just about garbage—it's about accountability," said a senior official. "The NGT is watching, and we have no choice but to deliver."
But the dump isn't the only concern. The meeting also reviewed the status of other critical environmental projects, including new sewage treatment plant (STP) in Faida village, laying of tertiary treated (TT) water pipelines, functioning of newly upgraded STPs, restoration of the city's choes (seasonal rivulets).
The chief secretary has issued a clear directive: all pending and planned works must be completed before the NGT hearing in September.
