Chief Secretary reviews Compliance with Supreme Court Directions on Solid Waste Management in Ladakh.

Chief Secretary reviews Compliance with Supreme Court Directions on Solid Waste Management in Ladakh.
Leh, May 21, 2026: Chief Secretary, Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, today chaired a review meeting regarding compliance with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No. 6174 of 2023 concerning the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 in the Union Territory.
Mandeep Mittal, Additional Secretary, Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment, gave a detailed overview regarding the status of compliance and the data required to be submitted to the Ministry in the prescribed format. He informed that directions issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs are being complied with, and that all Deputy Commissioners of the seven districts have been requested to ensure strict monitoring of waste management systems in their respective jurisdictions.
It was informed that currently two major waste dumping sites are operational in Leh and Kargil, while Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and door-to-door waste collection systems are being established and strengthened in other districts. Discussions were also held regarding mapping of all service areas covered under material recovery and waste management facilities.
The Chief Secretary reviewed the obligations and responsibilities of district administrations under the new Solid Waste Management Rules and sought updates from the Deputy Commissioners of Nubra, Changthang, Sham, Kargil, and Drass, who joined the meeting virtually, regarding awareness programmes, waste segregation systems, and identification of bulk waste generators in their respective areas.
Shri Kundra stressed the importance of maintaining proper waste management systems, particularly in major tourist destinations and environmentally sensitive areas. He directed the district administrations to ensure strict compliance by hotels, commercial establishments, and tourism-related units, especially around lakes, water bodies, and tourist sites. He emphasized that proper dustbins, segregation systems, and waste transportation mechanisms must be put in place to address the core issues related to waste disposal and cleanliness.
The Chief Secretary observed that awareness campaigns alone would not be sufficient unless supported by an effective and organized waste management mechanism. He instructed all Deputy Commissioners to treat the matter seriously, noting that compliance is important not only from the perspective of the Hon’ble Supreme Court directions but also in view of the increasing tourist footfall during the peak tourism season.
He further stressed the need to strengthen public convenience infrastructure and augment waste management facilities in high-footfall tourist areas to maintain cleanliness and environmental sustainability across Ladakh.
Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Shri Surbir Singh, also addressed the meeting and highlighted three key focus areas requiring immediate attention, including strengthening solid waste management systems, identification of bulk waste generators, and elimination of garbage vulnerable points across the Union Territory.
The Chief Secretary directed the concerned departments to prepare a standardized action-based template and comprehensive district-wise action plans for effective implementation and monitoring of waste management measures.
The meeting was attended by Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Shri Surbir Singh; Additional Secretary, Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment, Shri Mandeep Mittal; Secretary, School Education, Ms. Bhanu Prabha; Directors of concerned departments; Deputy Commissioners; and other officers from the concerned departments.