CPCB Report Exposes Critical Deficiencies at Bhopal's Adampur Landfill Site
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has submitted a concerning report to the Supreme Court regarding the Adampur landfill in Bhopal. The document highlights significant failures by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) in managing the site. It points to critical gaps, unnecessary delays, and a severe lack of proper documentation.
Bio-Remediation Work Remains Stalled
A major finding reveals that bio-remediation and bio-mining of legacy waste have not even started. The CPCB states the compliance status is unchanged from an earlier inspection in June 2025. This indicates no tangible progress on the ground despite clear directives.
Approximately 4,54,525 tonnes of untreated legacy waste continues to occupy 27 acres of the dumping site. This massive pile poses persistent environmental, operational, and serious fire-related risks to the area.
Persistent Delays in Tenders and Work Orders
The report details a pattern of delays hampering progress. Authorities terminated a previous work order for bio-mining issued to M/s Susajja Enterprises JV Anand Auto Pvt. Ltd. No successor agency has been engaged to start the crucial remediation work.
BMC floated two key tenders in 2025:
- A tender for a project management consultant on July 31.
- A tender for a third-party operator for legacy waste remediation on October 25.
However, the bid opening for the third-party operator was extended to December 11, 2025, further pushing back implementation timelines.
Fire Safety Measures Found Inadequate
While some fire-prevention systems are in place, including hydrants and CCTV coverage, the CPCB flagged glaring gaps. Critical equipment like thermal imaging cameras remains uninstalled. Portable methane detectors are in use without proper calibration.
One hydrant point is inaccessible due to a missing approach road. The report also notes the absence of a comprehensive on-site and off-site emergency plan integrated with district disaster management. Inadequate waste heap spacing and aeration increase the vulnerability to spontaneous fires.
Operational and Documentation Failures
The inspection found essential operational records were either not maintained or not furnished. This includes logs for the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), temperature monitoring for windrows, and leachate treatment plant data. These deficiencies point to significant failures in process monitoring and documentation by the BMC.
Minor Improvements Noted Amid Major Concerns
The report did acknowledge some improvements. The capacity for garbage disposal at the site has increased. This helps reduce a shortfall in handling the 800 metric tonnes of solid waste Bhopal generates daily. The deployment of trommel machines and establishment of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) show progress in fresh waste processing.
However, a major project, the 400 TPD torrefied charcoal plant, remains under construction. Its commissioning timeline has been delayed, revised from November 2025 to July 2026.
CPCB's Recommendations for Urgent Action
The CPCB report urges the BMC to take immediate and decisive steps. Key recommendations include:
- Expediting the appointment of a management consultant to prepare and oversee the bio-mining implementation plan.
- Accelerating construction of the charcoal plant with a realistic revised schedule.
- Strengthening fire-prevention by installing thermal cameras and ensuring hydrant accessibility.
- Improving waste heap management through proper spacing and aeration.
- Maintaining comprehensive operational logs for inspections.
- Collaborating with co-processing facilities like cement industries for utilizing recovered fuel from bio-mining.
The Supreme Court is currently seized of a review petition filed by the BMC. The petition challenges a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that imposed a penalty of Rs 1.80 crore on the corporation for violations of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The court had directed the CPCB to inspect the site and file this compliance report.
Scientist Diya Sinha, in an affidavit dated December 12, 2025, informed the court that a CPCB team inspected the Adampur site on November 21 and 22, 2025. The team also held an interaction meeting with the BMC Commissioner. The conclusions of that inspection form the basis of this stark report to the apex court.
