The Uttarakhand high court has asked the State government why the permission of the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) had not been taken before opening new treks and expedition routes. During hearing on a public interest litigation filed by Almora resident Jitendra Yadav, by the high court division bench of chief justice Vipin Sanghi and justice RC Khulbe, the chief justice expressed dissatisfaction and pulled up the district magistrates on the subject of solid waste management. None of the district magistrates had submitted any report on solid waste management which shows the contempt of court orders. The government counsel informed the court that some of the district magistrates had sent their report. However, these reports are not in the format in which they can be submitted in the court. Further time was also sought for submitting status reports.
Taking strict cognisance of garbage disposal in Haldwani, the court directed the Haldwani municipal commissioner to remain present in the court personally on the next date of hearing.
Meanwhile, the counsel of the petitioner, Dushyant Mainali informed that the 10 new treks and 30 expedition mountains in the high Himalayan region of the State lacked proper arrangements for garbage management. He said that the State government does not have any action plan to ensure effective garbage disposal in the high Himalayan regions of the State.
