The Panchkula municipal corporation's only and first material recovery facility (MRF) has ceased to function despite an expenditure of approximately Rs 3 crore. The civic body is now using the facility in Alipur merely as a transfer station, either due to resident or political pressure. Additionally, the corporation is considering relocating the facility and will take up the matter with the state government.
Municipal Commissioner Vinay Kumar confirmed this during the House meeting on Tuesday. He stated that objections to the MRF were raised after its construction, by which time over Rs 2.5 crore had already been spent. The corporation had planned to procure a Rs 2 crore machine for the facility but has now dropped the plan due to concerns. The MRF was designed for sorting garbage, but it is now only used as a transfer station.
Area councillor Rohit Choudhary requested the MC officials to shift the facility, citing foul smell and irritation for nearby residents in Alipur. The commissioner responded that since a substantial amount had already been spent, little could be done further. However, he offered to raise the issue of shifting the MRF with the state government if the House desired.
According to MC officials, the MRF had dedicated space for segregation, sorting, and handling of recyclable materials. It was designed to sort, recover, and process recyclable dry waste such as plastic, paper, cardboard, glass, metals (aluminium, steel), tetra packs, and packaging materials. These materials were to be separated manually or mechanically into different categories for recycling.
The MRF, which had missed several deadlines, was conceived as a key step towards scientific waste management in Panchkula, where daily waste generation has crossed 200 metric tonnes. It was opened earlier this year. Dumping of waste at the temporary Jhuriwala site completely stopped after the facility became operational, as garbage was shifted there before being sent to Ambala for processing.
This was the first and only MRF in Panchkula, and its closure is expected to impact solid waste management in the city. In contrast, neighbouring Chandigarh operates three MRFs at different locations. The development is also likely to affect the corporation's scoring in the annual Swachhata Survekshan.
