NGT reviews delay in legacy waste clearance at Bhagtanwala dump

Expressing concern over delay in clearing legacy waste at the Bhagtanwala dump site in Amritsar, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Municipal Corporation (MC) to submit an affidavit within four weeks detailing the progress and timeline for the completion of the work.

The matter was heard by the Principal Bench of the NGT, chaired by Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Dr Afroz Ahmad, in a case of fire outbreaks at the Bhagtanwala dump highlighted by The Tribune on May 11, 2024.

During the hearing, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Bikramjit Singh Shergill, appeared along with advocate Sarchar Anand. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) were represented by Richa Kapoor and Soni Singh, respectively.

The Commissioner informed the Bench that the Corporation could not meet the earlier deadline for clearing the legacy waste, but had now awarded a new contract to Ecostand Infra Pvt Ltd. The work was expected to be completed by November 2026, he said. He further stated that 33.67 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste lying over 21 acres of land would be cleared by October 2026.

The Tribunal also noted that Amritsar currently generates around 476 tonnes of waste per day, while the existing treatment capacity falls short by 190 tonnes per day. To bridge this gap, a separate contract will be awarded to ensure 100 per cent treatment of newly generated waste, which is expected to become operational within two months.

The NGT directed the Commissioner to file an affidavit within four weeks giving a clear timeline for closing the daily waste treatment gap, an undertaking confirming the clearance of all legacy waste by October 2026, and data supporting the calculation of 33.67 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste.

The Tribunal fixed January 15, 2026, as the next date of hearing to review the progress of work.