NGT Asks Matheran Council for Horse Waste Plan Before E-Tempo Approval

The Western Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal, located in Pune, has directed the Matheran Hill Station Municipal Council to submit a detailed plan explaining how horse waste collected across Matheran will be processed and disposed of before approving the deployment of electric cargo vehicles for waste collection.

The directive was issued after the tribunal reviewed a proposal from the Matheran Hill Station Municipal Council to introduce electric cargo vehicles, commonly known as e-tempos, alongside mechanised road-sweeping vehicles. The local civic body had put forward the vehicle proposal as a measure to improve sanitation, waste collection, and waste transportation across the hill station.

However, upon examining the proposal, the Western Zone Bench found significant deficiencies in the civic administration's submission. Specifically, the tribunal noted that while the council proposed new vehicles for waste collection, it failed to clarify where the horse waste gathered throughout Matheran would actually be transported or how it would be processed.

The tribunal instructed the municipal council to spell out the exact locations, facilities, and procedures that will be used to handle and dispose of equine waste. The NGT emphasised that a clear, concrete plan for equine waste management is a necessary prerequisite before any consideration can be given to allowing e-tempos or mechanised sweeping machinery to operate in the area.

In addition to demanding details on disposal locations and processing mechanisms, the National Green Tribunal flagged broader gaps in the civic body's overall sanitation strategy. The tribunal observed that the council's current submission does not adequately address several key recommendations previously made by an expert committee regarding equine waste management and the mitigation of its environmental impact on Matheran.

As a result, the proposal to introduce electric cargo vehicles and mechanised sweepers remains pending until the Matheran Hill Station Municipal Council provides the required clarifications and incorporates the expert committee's environmental guidance into its official waste management plan.