The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has given a final opportunity to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to file their affidavits regarding the Bhandewadi Dumping Yard issue. The court expressed displeasure after the authorities failed to submit proper replies despite being given repeated chances. The matter came up during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by local residents, who have raised serious concerns about the health and environmental risks posed by the Bhandewadi Dumping Yard. Earlier, on September 30, 2025, the High Court had issued notices to all the respondents and directed them to submit their replies within six weeks. However, the authorities failed to file proper affidavits on three occasions.

 

Taking a serious view of this lapse, Justices Anil S Kilor and Raj D Wakode on Friday granted a last chance and ordered the respondents to file their affidavits without fail. During the hearing, the court noted that Nagpur city is rapidly expanding in all directions, and the Bhandewadi Dumping Yard, once located in the outskirts, now lies almost in the heart of the city. This, the court observed, poses a serious threat to public health.

 

The area around the dumping yard has seen rapid urban development, including residential colonies, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities, making the issue even more critical. The petitioners pointed out several problems caused by the dumping yard, including the burning of garbage, foul smell, air and water pollution, and the absence of scientific waste management. They demanded immediate steps such as stopping the burning of waste, creating a buffer zone around the dumping site, proper segregation and daily disposal of garbage, and strict compliance with environmental laws. The High Court took note of these demands and directed the MPCB and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to ensure strict monitoring and implementation of environmental regulations.

 

The court also asked the NMC to seriously consider shifting the Bhandewadi dumping yard outside the city limits. The PIL was filed by Anil Wadpalliwar along with Meena Shahu, Dinesh Baliram Raghorthe, Dhanraj Asaram Bhoyar, Yashwant Asaram Bhoyar, Ramesh Narayan Dhande, Ajay Shankar Khawase, Sanjay Rambhau Lute, and Vijay Rambhau Lute. Advocate Shrirang Bhandarkar and Advocate Mallika Goyanka appeared on behalf of the petitioners, while Advocate Sudhir Puranik represented the NMC.

 

The court has now directed all respondents to submit their affidavits within two weeks. Only 800 of 1,400 metric tons of waste cleared daily Around 1,300 to 1,400 metric tons of waste is dumped daily at the yard. However, the contractor appointed for waste management clears only about 700 to 800 metric tons each day. The remaining garbage is left untreated which led to accumulation. Despite clear directions from the State Government that waste must be collected and processed daily, this is not being followed. This failure was brought to the notice of the High Court and it prompted it to issue a final warning and seek a detailed affidavit from the authorities.