Executive Officer of the Shivalik Nagar Municipal Committee, told The Times of India that they are “not dumping waste in the river.”

Uttarakhand: Haridwar Residents Demand Relocation of Dumping Yard as Domestic Waste Pollutes Ganga

Residents of Uttarakhand’s Haridwar district have raised serious concerns over domestic waste being dumped in the riverbed of a seasonal stream that merges with the Ganga during the monsoon season. This has led to widespread demands for the relocation of the dumping ground, The Times of India reported.

The Shivalik Nagar Municipal Committee has acknowledged that the current dumping site is located on the bank of a seasonal stream and confirmed that waste from nearby rural areas, SIDCUL, and BHEL is also brought to the site.

According to the report, residents allege that the Shivalik Nagar Palika is using the riverbed as an informal dumping ground, thereby polluting the Ganga. They are also citing threats to wildlife, as the area is located near the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, in their demand to relocate the site.

Shivalik Nagar is located on the outskirts of Haridwar city.

Approximately 10–12 metric tonnes of waste are generated daily in the area and dumped near the riverbed, along with waste from the SIDCUL industrial zone, the report said.

The Times of India quoted the Shivalik Nagar Municipal Committee as estimating that around 10–12 metric tonnes of waste are produced daily in the region. This, combined with industrial waste from the nearby SIDCUL zone, is reportedly being dumped near the seasonal stream. Residents claim that during the monsoon, the swollen stream carries the waste directly into the Ganga River, contributing to pollution downstream.

The report also quoted a local resident, Manish Kumar, who said, “Converting the riverbed of a seasonal river into a dumping yard is a crime.”

“Waste is dumped directly into the seasonal river, which flows at full volume into the Ganga during the monsoon. This site is close to a tiger reserve, making it even more dangerous for wildlife and the surrounding ecosystem. Herds of cows can often be seen eating waste and plastic. This practice must stop immediately,” Manish Kumar further stated.

Subhash Kumar, Executive Officer of the Shivalik Nagar Municipal Committee, told The Times of India that they are “not dumping waste in the river.” He also acknowledged that the dumping site is located on the bank of a seasonal stream and that waste from nearby rural areas, SIDCUL, and BHEL is also brought there. However, Subhash Kumar added, as quoted in the report, that a proposal has already been submitted to relocate the dumping site and that plans are in place to dispose of the accumulated legacy waste. “Once that is done, the dumping site will be restored,” he said.

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