City commissioner Abhishek Ruhela ordered the health section of Dehradun Municipal Corporation (MCD) to issue a notice to Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited (REEL) for irregularities in the solid waste management and recycling plant by Sheeshambada.
On Wednesday, some residents and members of Pachwadoon Sanyukt Samiti complained to Ruhela about several irregularities in the waste management plant. They said there was a seven foot high pile of untreated garbage in the factory. According to them, the generation of untreated leachate from the plant pollutes groundwater and destroys crops. They said the area around the factory stinks of garbage which has made their daily lives miserable.
They alleged that most of the vehicles carrying garbage inside the premises did not have license plates.
Garbage is also not covered properly according to standard rules, they added. However, municipal health official Dr RK Singh informed residents that the Uttarakhand Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) had tested the quality of the water that s ‘has been found to be satisfactory. When questioned by the commissioner about the plant’s irregularities, the plant’s project manager, MA Saify said all garbage transport vehicles have license plates but that he will look into the matter. . He also denied any pungent odor in the area and said the company regularly sprays enzymes into the plant that leave no traces of bad odor. However, residents objected to those responses and asked the commissioner to conduct a surprise inspection of the plant to find out the real situation. Upon learning of the case, Ruhela asked the health section to issue an opinion to the company. He also assured the inhabitants of making a surprise visit to the factory in the near future.