Mountains of garbage piling up in the form of legacy waste in Bhandewadi could be a thing of the past by June 2027, if State Government officials are to be believed. Legacy waste is old, improperly managed municipal solid waste that has accumulated over the years in landfills or dumpsites. Chief Secretary of Government of Maharashtra, in a detailed progress report on status of Municipal Solid Waste of the State in compliance of

 

National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, claimed that Nagpur will overcome the gap in legacy waste remediation by June 30, 2027. The Principal Bench of NGT has issued a series of landmark directives aimed at addressing the critical environmental challenges associated with solid waste and sewage management in Maharashtra. In the orders, NGT has emphasised the urgent need for stringent action to rectify deficiencies in solid and liquid waste management within the State, setting clear timelines and imposing significant penalties for non-compliance.

 

The Tribunal also mandated that 100% sewage treatment be ensured by all local bodies, with severe penalties for delays in implementing remediation measures and establishing Sewage Treatment Plants (STP). In response to these directives, the State Government has formulated and initiated a comprehensive action plan aimed at bridging the existing gaps in waste and sewage management in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

 

As per the report submitted by the State Government, the Bhandewadi dumping yard in city currently has 8.69 lakh Metric Tonnes (MT) of legacy waste and 1,036 MT of legacy waste being added daily as unprocessed waste. In this legacy waste, 2,99,466 tonnes are digested materials. It also contains 89,694 tonnes of plastic, 11 tonnes of rubber waste and 2,71,441 tonnes of inerts and other waste which is immovable. Nagpur city is generating 1,381 tonnes per day of municipal waste which is collected by the civic body.

 

Under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, the Central Government has approved 1,000 tonnes per day capacity of waste to Compressed Bio Gas Project in city which is currently under construction and it is expected to be commissioned between October and December this year. As per the information, NGT has imposed a substantial financial penalty on Maharashtra for the existing gaps in sewage treatment infrastructure. The report also mentioned that Nagpur city generates 520 MLD of sewage daily and as per the 2011 census,

 

NMC targeted to connect 6,39,057 of households with sewage line whereas 6,07,104 households are already connected with the sewage line. The remaining connection will be completed till Dec, 2027. Under Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, provisions have been made for waste collection, segregation and scientific management, and bio-remediation of legacy waste sites under the Swachha Bharat Mission (Urban). The remaining gap would be complied with the ULBs with the provisions of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 within the next 6 to 9 months.