The Mangan district administration in Sikkim has directed hotels, restaurants, shops, government institutions and property owners to stop discharging sewage, wastewater and other effluents into local jhoras and water sources within seven days. Non-compliance could result in closures, fines and legal action.
The order was issued on October 17 by Mangan District Collector-cum-Magistrate Anant Jain in compliance with directions from the Sikkim High Court in a public interest litigation concerning the accumulation of garbage and waste on farmland.
In its October 14 order, the High Court directed the state government to take immediate steps to prevent sewage from flowing into rivers and jhoras. It also directed the Mangan District Collector to appear before it on October 28.
Inspections reveal multiple pollution violations
Joint inspections conducted by special monitoring cells on October 16 and 17 identified several instances of pollution, including reddish effluent entering Rimit Khola, overflowing septic tanks at government institutions and wastewater discharge into Rafong Khola jhora.
The Mangan Nagar Panchayat’s Municipal Executive Officer has been appointed nodal officer for enforcement in urban areas, while the Additional District Collector (Development) will oversee implementation in rural areas.
Meat, fish and poultry shops, restaurants and food godown operators discharging wastewater into Rimit Khola have been directed to remove outlets leading to the waterbody and install soak-pit-based systems for greywater disposal within seven days. Establishments that fail to initiate corrective measures may be closed until compliance is certified.
The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department has also been instructed to stop effluent discharge from the Mangan slaughterhouse into Rimit Khola and ensure safe waste disposal within the stipulated period. Failure to comply could lead to the facility’s closure.
Government institutions and businesses under scrutiny
Three government institutions—the District Administrative Centre, also known as the Yellow Building, the District Hospital and North Sikkim Academy—have been directed to desludge their septic tanks within seven days using the Nagar Panchayat’s designated vehicle.
Planter’s Hotel in Power Colony Ward must remove a pipeline discharging greywater into Rimit jhora and install a decentralised soak-pit system.
Households and buildings along Rinzing Namgyal Kazi Marg found to have leaking septic tanks have also been directed to use the municipal desludging facility. Owners whose tanks discharge directly into jhoras may face fines under applicable municipal bye-laws.
In rural areas, property owners and businesses near Rafong Khola jhora have been instructed to stop discharging garage waste, greasy material, blackwater and greywater into the waterbody and clear accumulated waste. The North District Milk Union has been directed to repair its non-functional greywater management system and ensure proper wastewater disposal.
Fines and legal action for non-compliance
Urban violations will attract penalties under applicable municipal bye-laws, while rural violations will be dealt with under the relevant provisions of the Sikkim Panchayat Act, 1993. Serious cases may be referred to the Sikkim State Pollution Control Board for environmental penalties and compensation under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
The order states that the concerned parties must be given an opportunity to be heard before fines are imposed. However, payment of a penalty will not exempt violators from completing the required corrective work.
Officials have been directed to serve notices on the named parties within 24 hours. Follow-up inspections will take place after the seven-day compliance period, with reports containing geo-tagged before-and-after photographs due by October 26.
The reports will be placed before the High Court on October 28. Mangan Police Station has been directed to assist in serving notices and enforcing closures where necessary.
The administration has also warned that unsatisfactory compliance could lead to proceedings under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and referrals to the State Pollution Control Board.
Separately, in its October 14 order in the same public interest litigation, the High Court warned that hotels in Lachen and Lachung could be closed if they failed to comply with its directions within four weeks.
The matter is scheduled to come up before the High Court again on October 28.