LEH: The union territory of Ladakh generated almost more than 3900 Metric Tons of waste in the year 2022, of which it could process less than half in the year 2022, the administration informed on Friday.
The processing of waste suffered due to pending construction of Solid Waste Management Plant at Kargil, which also resulted in significant loss of revenue.
The UT administration on Friday submitted the Compliance Report before the National Green Tribunal, as sought by the green panel to assess the status of implementation of solid waste management rules 2016 in o.a. no. 606/2018.
As per the report accessed by this scribe, the union generated a total of 3923.13 Metric Tons of waste from January to December 2022.
The tribunal was informed that 2687.30 MT waste was generated in the areas under the Municipal Committee Leh in the year 2022, including 1464.05 MT Dry Waste and 791.86 MT wet waste.
Municipal Committee Leh was able to collect 1244.44 MT of Dry Waste and process it, while the remaining 219.60 Dry Waste was transferred for Landfill.
Similarly, 791.86 MT of wet waste was collected by Municipal Committee Leh, of which it could process 673.08 MT, and the remaining 118.78 MT wet wastewas transferred for Landfill.
The Compliance report said that 1667.22 MT waste was generated in the areas under the Municipal Committee Kargil in the year 2022, including 1223.25 MT Dry Waste and 443.97 MT wet waste.
“Municipal Committee Kargil was able to collect 1223.25 MT Dry Waste and 443.97 MT wet waste. However, none of it could be processed as the City Solid Waste Management Plant for Kargil and Sanitary Landfill Site is under Construction,” an official said.
The City Solid Waste Management Plant and Sanitary Landfill Site in Kargil are expected to be completed by August 2023, he added.
The administration further informed the green tribunal that it was able to generate a revenue of Rs 12 Lakh by selling some of the waste material in Leh.
“These included 13.05 MT of Cement bags, 3.68 MT of LDP and MLP, 56.08 MT ofCardboard, 2.15 MT of Plastic, 7.60 MT of Pet Bottles & HDP, and 12.92MT ofTin,” it said.
However, no material was sold and no revenue was realised in Kargil, said the administration.
In the four quarters of the year 2022, Leh Town generated 244.53 MT, 1033.47 MT, 658.84MT, and 319.08 MT of waste, it said, while Kargil Town generated 36.00 MT, 759.80 MT, 593.20 MT, and 278.22MT of waste.
“The amount of waste generated in the first quarter ( Jan-March) and fourth quarter( Oct-Dec) are less due to the harsh climate condition and heavy snow fall,” the administration told the panel, adding that all construction related and other activities stops at this period and most of the population migrates to other states.
“The amount of waste generated in the second quarter (April-June) is high due to the high footfall of tourists and migrant labours in the cities,” it added.
By Sahil Rasgotra
