The National Green Tribunal's Eastern Zonal Bench has exposed severe administrative and environmental failures in the management of the Belgachia dumping ground in Howrah, following a case of land subsidence. The bench, comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Ishwar Singh, delivered a strong order highlighting systemic lapses by the district and civic authorities.
NGT Criticizes District Magistrate's Inaction
In its detailed order, the NGT bench specifically criticized the District Magistrate (DM) of Howrah for submitting an inadequate compliance report. The DM's reply focused solely on an action-taken report concerning the soil failure and land subsidence incident. However, it completely sidestepped the mandatory, long-term responsibilities mandated under Rule 12 of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016.
These neglected duties include the crucial task of identifying and allocating suitable land for setting up waste processing and disposal facilities. The tribunal has now directed the DM to ensure full compliance with these provisions without further delay.
Howrah Municipal Corporation's Multiple Violations
The order listed a series of violations by the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) under Rule 15 of the SWM Rules, 2016. Shockingly, these rules have been in force for nearly a decade, yet basic infrastructure remains absent. The NGT noted the following key failures:
- Incomplete and irregular door-to-door collection of solid waste.
- Complete absence of designated centres for collecting domestic hazardous waste.
- Failure to establish any waste processing facilities or sanitary landfills as per norms.
- Lack of integration of informal waste pickers and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) into the formal waste management system.
NGT's Directives and Future Compliance
The tribunal has issued clear directives to rectify the situation. It has ordered the DM to review the performance of the Howrah Municipal Corporation on a quarterly basis and submit a detailed action-taken report before the next hearing.
Furthermore, the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) has been directed to take stringent action. The WBPCB must initiate proceedings against the erring officials and impose appropriate environmental compensation for the past violations. The board is also required to submit its own compliance report to the NGT.
This case underscores a persistent gap between policy and on-ground implementation in urban waste management, posing significant environmental and public health risks for residents of Howrah.
