Residents dispute MC claims to NGT on Jhuriwala waste management

Panchkula: The municipal corporation has submitted before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that no material recovery facility (MRF) exists at the Jhuriwala site and that the daily 200 metric tonnes of garbage brought there is cleared the same day. However, area residents dispute this claim.
The MC also stated that after clearing the site, the waste is transported to Patvi site in Ambala for processing. However, they acknowledged that rainy days affect the efficiency of daily waste collection, assuring that best efforts are made to ensure the waste is lifted and transported the same day.
Residents say the waste dump remains and causes a foul smell, making their lives miserable. Even cattle can be seen at the dump site. "The garbage is not being lifted the same day and causes a foul smell. Due to summer, the smell has increases as the wind direction has changed," said Nitesh Mittal, a resident of Sector 23.
Mohit Gupta, founder of social group Solution Box and a resident of Sector 25, said, "The claim that the entire garbage is lifted the same day is not true, as I pass through that area daily. The MC has no evidence regarding this. Also, they previously said they were using Jhuriwala site as the MRF, and now they say otherwise. What should we believe?"
An MRF is a specialised waste sorting and recycling system that receives, separates, and prepares recyclable materials for end-user manufacturers. In its report to the NGT, the corporation attached photographs taken on April 17, of Jhuriwala site, along with the present location, to claim that the site is ‘totally' cleared and no legacy waste remains. They also said no natural flow of water has been obstructed by the corporation. Waterlogging at this point was due to the blockage of drains under the national highway, which was opened by the civic body after much effort. While opening the drains, only mud was found rather than any waste material.
The civic body informed the NGT that a work order for the MRF centre in Alipur village has been issued for approximately Rs 2 crore. Also, it reiterated to the NGT that all waste at Sector 23 dumping ground will be removed before Aug 31. The government has granted permission to clear the remaining 1.70 lakh metric tonnes of waste in the final phase of the project. The clearance operation will cost over Rs 12 crore.
The previous contract resulted in the removal of 3.72 lakh metric tonnes of waste over three years. The second phase has been allocated to the same contractor to accelerate progress, given the urgent environmental and hygiene concerns.