As part of its efforts to resolve opposition of some groups to the development of a solid waste management plant and landfill at Shishambada, various aspects of the planned facilities were explained to emphasise aspects like the “ultra-modern” technique proposed to ensure scientific landfill unit while assuring local representatives that the planned waste management plant and landfill will not cause any pollution in the air or water. A presentation was held on this subject at a meeting presided over by the state chief secretary Shatrughna Singh at the secretariaton Thursday.
Along with the chief secretary, the Dehradun mayor Vinod Chamoli, Sahaspur MlA Sahdev Pundeer, block Pramukh, Gram Pradhan and other public representatives were also among those present at the meeting regarding the planned waste management plant and landfill at Shishambada. Officials informed the meeting that the planned solid waste management plant and landfill at Shishambada will be built and operated on the “waste to byproduct” principle. A presentation was made on the planned landfill unit proposed to be built with modern techniques. The issues raised and complaints made by the public representatives were also addressed by the officials at the meeting. Officials attempted to convince the locals opposed to the planned development, emphasizing the point that the construction of this waste treatment planned and landfill will exert no negative effect on public health and living. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) for this planned development at Shishambada has also been undertaken. At the same time, the necessary permission has also been secured from the expert appraisal committee (EAC), Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, National Green Tribunal and the pollution control board. It was further averred that the needful has been done to ensure that there is no type of air or water pollution from the facility. An official said, “At the tipping floor of the planned waste treatment plant, the waste will be segregated into organic and inorganic. The organic waste will be put to use for making compost manure. This planned waste treatment plant will work on the principle of ‘waste to byproduct’ with provision of keeping a buffer zone of about 20 metres. The water from this plant will not be drained into the river but will be put to use for irrigating the green belt to be developed at the treatment plant. The religious sanctity of the Asan river and its present condition will not bear any detrimental effect of the construction of the planned plant.” It was also stated that the land in question had been declared barren land in 2006 and is situated at a distance of about 300 metres from the river,” said the official. The chief secretary Shatrughna Singh assured the locals and public representatives that the feasibility and related issues to the planned Shishambada facility will be checked and studied once again. He also directed officials concerned to take the local public representatives on a tour of Hyderabad in order to view the facility similar to the one planned in Dehradun for solid waste management. Officials also averred that at present there are only seven of such ultra-modern technologically advanced waste treatment plants like the one planned for Dehradun. The Dehradun district magistrate Ravinath Raman, senior superintendent of police Sadanand Date, secretary Nitin Singh Bhadauriya among other departmental officials were also present in the meeting.