New Delhi, Jan 13 (.) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) to undertake comprehensive measures to ensure full compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and other applicable environmental regulations.
The direction was issued by a bench comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi (Judicial Member) and Justice Ishwar Singh (Expert Member).
The bench passed the direction after observing that the West Bengal State Pollution Control Board (WBSPCB) had failed to file any report or response indicating the compliance status with respect to the mandatory biannual review of the implementation of the Rules, to be conducted in close coordination with the Directorate of Municipal Administration or the Secretary-in-Charge of the State Urban Development Department.
WBSPCB has not taken any action in respect of violations of the SWM Rules, 2016, by the Municipal Corporation, Howrah, NGT states.
In this instrumental observation, NGT directed HMC to file a detailed report on progress against timelines and budgetary allocations for all SWM activities, within two months.
NGT also directed HMC to ensure compliance with Rule 17, requiring brand owners of non-biodegradable packaging to fund and support waste management systems.
Tribunal has fixed the next hearing for 18 March 2026. Non-compliance with the order may constitute an offence under Section 26 of the NGT Act, 2010, and orders are enforceable as a civil court decree.
Earlier following the NGT’s September 25, 2025 directive an affidavit was filed by Joly Chaudhuri, Director of the State Urban Development Agency (SUDA), Joly Chaudhuri, Director of the State Urban Development Agency (SUDA).
At that time West Bengal government submitted a detailed, time-bound action plan to the NGT’s Eastern Zone Bench to tackle the worsening solid-waste management crisis at Howrah’s saturated Belgachia dumpyard.
. JMB VAN PRP