In a landmark ruling aimed at reinforcing environmental accountability, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed companies manufacturing disposable products, including tin, glass, plastic packaging, televisions, and refrigerators, to provide mandatory financial assistance (grants) to local bodies. This funding is intended to facilitate the establishment of robust waste management systems. The recent order by the NGT’s Central Bench, presided over by Justice Shiv Kumar Singh and Judicial Member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, came during the hearing of Nitin Saxena versus State of Madhya Pradesh. Local municipal bodies are currently deliberating on the mechanism to secure these grants to alleviate the mounting financial burden of waste disposal. The tribunal took a stern view of the current state of waste management in the State capital.

 

Currently, Bhopal Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) waste is transported to the Adampur landfill site, but reports indicate a lack of scientific treatment. The bench noted several instances of illegal dumping and open burning of solid waste, particularly in green belts, which constitutes a direct violation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The illegal disposal and burning of waste have not only led to a significant spike in air pollution but have also posed a direct threat to the ecological balance of the city’s green zones and the health of its residents. Municipal officials believe that if the NGT order is implemented effectively, then it will bring a paradigm shift in environmental conservation. At present, urban local bodies (ULBs) manage disposable waste at their own expense, spending crores of rupees annually with limited success.

 

“The provision of financial grants from manufacturers will allow for better infrastructure. Furthermore, companies providing the grants are likely to monitor the utilisation of funds, ensuring greater transparency and efficiency in waste processing,” a senior official stated. Petitioner cites administrative inertia: Despite the NGT’s directives, petitioner Nitin Saxena expressed concerns over the slow pace of implementation by the municipal corporation. Saxena highlighted that massive ‘mountains of waste’ continue to accumulate at Adampur Cantonment without proper disposal. The authorities are losing precious time in lengthy tender processes while the actual execution remains stagnant. Every summer, the landfill site witnesses massive fires, adding to the environmental crisis,” Saxena remarked. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on February 13, where the progress made by local bodies in compliance with the tribunal’s directives will be reviewed.