Chief Secretary reviews Compliance with Supreme Court Directions on Solid Waste Management across Ladakh
26/06/2026
Leh, June 25 (KIP)- Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, today chaired a high-level review meeting to assess compliance with the directions issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No. 6174 of 2023, pursuant to its order dated May 5, 2026, regarding the implementation of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules and scientific waste management practices.
Sh. Mandeep Mittal, IFS, Regional Director and Member Secretary, Ladakh Pollution Control Committee (LPCC), delivered a detailed presentation outlining the responsibilities and directions issued to District Collectors, Urban Local Bodies, Municipal Committees, UT Administrative Departments, and Local Self-Government Institutions in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directives.
The presentation detailed the specific responsibilities assigned to the UT Administration, Local Self Government Department, Urban Local Bodies, and District Collectors for effective implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules. The UT Administration was tasked with overall monitoring and coordination, filling manpower and technical vacancies, mobilizing financial resources, conducting capacity-building programmes, ensuring timely compliance, and promoting the dissemination of Supreme Court directives related to waste management.
District Collectors were instructed to establish district-level special cells, conduct regular inspections of dumping sites and waste management facilities, submit periodic progress reports, ensure authorized transportation and disposal of solid waste, and oversee the implementation of SWM Rules in their respective districts. The presentation emphasized coordinated action, regular monitoring, accountability, and adherence to prescribed timelines to achieve scientific and sustainable waste management across the Union Territory.
The Chief Secretary reviewed the status of unauthorized dumping sites, garbage vulnerable points (GVPs), and illegal waste disposal locations across Leh, Kargil, and the newly created districts. He also assessed waste management challenges in districts, including Nubra, Zanskar, Sham, Drass, and Changthang.
Deputy Commissioners of various districts, who joined the meeting virtually, presented updates on the identification and remediation of unauthorized dumping sites and GVPs in their respective jurisdictions.
Reviewing the registration and monitoring of Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs), Shri Kundra sought detailed district-wise data on registered establishments, including hotels, hospitals, educational institutions, commercial buildings, and other large waste-generating entities. He examined compliance with mandatory waste segregation, wet waste composting, dry waste management protocols, and other obligations prescribed under the SWM Rules. The President of the All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association (ALHGHA) was specifically asked to provide details regarding compliance by hotels and tourism establishments.
The Chief Secretary stressed the need for a standardized reporting format and directed all stakeholders, including government offices, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, defence establishments, and the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), to strictly comply with waste management norms and the Lieutenant Governor’s directives on the elimination of single-use plastics.
While discussing enforcement measures, Shri Kundra directed that awareness campaigns be conducted across all districts before the imposition of penalties for littering and violations of waste management rules. He emphasized involving Nambardars, religious leaders, market associations, and civil society organizations in building public awareness and promoting responsible waste disposal practices.
Special focus was placed on maintaining cleanliness at tourist destinations and environmentally sensitive locations. The Chief Secretary instructed concerned agencies to ensure the installation of dustbins at major tourist halt points, tea stops, and public gathering areas within one week. He also called for enhanced signage at critical locations carrying messages against littering and informing visitors of applicable penalties for violations.
The meeting reviewed the need for improved waste management infrastructure, including the establishment of café-cum-toilet facilities at major tourist destinations, proper parking management in coordination with taxi associations, and the provision of adequate sanitation facilities at popular sites such as Pangong. The Chief Secretary further directed strict action against illegal off-roading activities in wildlife habitats and ecologically sensitive zones, stating that violations should be dealt with firmly under applicable environmental laws.
Discussions also covered challenges related to rural and urban waste collection systems, including the requirement for additional waste collection vehicles and drivers. The need for approximately 70 additional vehicles to strengthen waste collection and transportation services was highlighted. The meeting also deliberated on legacy waste bioremediation, installation of waste bins at petrol pumps, waste management awareness announcements by airlines, and issues faced by contractors and market associations involved in waste management operations.
The meeting was attended by Shri Lalinthakhuma Franklin, Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department; Ms Nidhi Malik, Secretary, Rural Development Department; Ms Bhanu Prabha, Secretary, School Education Department; Shri Baser-ul-Haq Choudhary; Shri Sanjeet Rodrigues, Secretary, Tourism Department; Shri Mandeep Mittal, IFS, Regional Director and Member Secretary, LPCC; Deputy Commissioner Leh, Shri Romil Singh Donk; representatives of the Merchant Association, All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association (ALGHA), contractors’ associations, and senior officers from various concerned departments.