Illegal waste dumping: Tribunal asks PPCB to submit report, imposes penalty

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), while addressing a petition on illegal solid waste dumping across the city, has issued a dual directive. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) must calculate the appropriate environmental compensation for the pollution and submit a report one week before the next hearing date. Furthermore, the NGT fined the PPCB Rs 10,000 for failing to appear during a previous hearing session.

The petition was filed against garbage dumping in areas such as Model Town Extension, near Giaspura Flats, SBS Nagar, Bahadur Ke Road, GT Road and Hambran Road. The NGT is considering the grievance of the applicant in respect of the dumping of solid waste and improper management of solid waste in Ludhiana district on specified locations that had been set out in the order issued on May 2, 2023.

The applicant, Kapil Dev, in the case stated that though the matter is pending since long before the NGT, no action has been taken by Municipal Commissioner to clear the waste.

However, the learned Court Commissioner had also pointed out that on his visit as per the direction of the Tribunal, he had found the garbage dumped on the given location on October 9. The applicant had once again referred to the complaint of residents from block C of Model Town Extension while raising the grievance that no effective action has been taken to clear the waste.

The orders issued by the NGT further mentioned that appropriate punitive action is required to be taken by the Chairman, PPCB. Though the Tribunal while hearing the matter waited for long for the appearance of the counsel for the PPCB to assist the NGT, no one has appeared on his behalf. Hence, the NGT imposed the cost of Rs 10,000 upon the PPCB Chairman.

Meanwhile, the PPCB is also directed to ascertain the extent of non-compliance of the Solid Waste Management Rules by the MC, and act and calculate the environmental compensation for damage caused on account of accumulation and non-clearing the solid waste. The PPCB will ascertain since when the solid waste is lying dumped in areas mentioned in the order issued on 2, 2023, and will calculate the environmental compensation considering the entire default period.

The PPCB will submit a report along with calculation of environment compensation one week before the next date of hearing that is January 20, 2026.