By Our Staff Reporter
Nainital, 19 May: Uttarakhand High Court, during the hearing of a PIL regarding the ban on plastic waste, has directed the Director of Panchayati Raj to submit a compliance report within two weeks. The division bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mehra issued instructions following concerns that previous court orders had not been adhered to.
During the proceedings, the petitioner argued that the state government had failed to implement the court’s directives despite prior orders. The court noted that plastic waste, including chips wrappers and empty water bottles, continued to litter roadsides in areas such as Nainital-Bhawali, Nainital-Haldwani, and Nainital-Kaladhungi, adversely affecting the environment. Expressing displeasure over non-compliance, the bench reiterated the need for strict adherence to the directives.
The court observed that roads, drains, forests, and water bodies were plagued by heaps of waste, and that the officials displayed indifference toward cleanliness. The judges announced that on 18 June, the state’s judiciary, including High Court judges and employees, would participate in a statewide cleanliness drive, setting an example for government authorities.
Previously, the court had directed the Urban Development Department to ensure strict implementation of its orders. It had also instructed manufacturers to incorporate QR codes at the production level, similar to those introduced on plastic bottles during the Kedarnath Yatra, and called for their statewide application beyond the Char Dham region.
Additionally, the court mandated that plastic waste be used for the top layers of all roads constructed under the Central Government budget. The Director, Urban Development, was instructed to undertake rigorous cleaning wherever waste accumulation was reported.
Further directives included the extensive promotion of the Swachh Bharat App and the High Court’s complaint portal, allowing citizens to lodge complaints regarding cleanliness. The court also called for physical verification of sanitation workers and instructed that maps of forest panchayats yet to be uploaded should be made available online. The Court also directed installation of GPS tracking systems in waste collection vehicles to monitor their movement efficiently.
The High Court emphasised that strict action be taken to address environmental concerns and ensure compliance with waste management regulations, directing officials to expedite their response in fulfilling these obligations.
