Hwh dumping ground: NGT rap for DM, HMCfor rule flout
Times of India | 13 January 2026
Kolkata: The Belgachia dumping ground subsidence matter exposed serious lapses by civic and district authorities, NGT's Eastern Zonal Bench said. In its order, the bench with Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Ishwar Singh criticised the DM, Howrah, for failing to submit a clear compliance report on Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016. While the DM's reply referred to an action-taken report on soil failure and land subsidence, it did not address mandatory responsibilities under Rule 12, including identification and allocation of land for waste processing and disposal facilities.
It now directed the DM to ensure compliance with these provisions, review performance of Howrah Municipal Corporation on a quarterly basis, and submit a detailed action-taken report before next hearing.
The order also listed multiple violations by HMC under Rule 15 of SWM Rules, 2016. These included incomplete door-to-door waste collection, absence of domestic hazardous waste collection centres, failure to set up waste processing facilities and sanitary landfills, and lack of integration of waste pickers and SHGs into waste management system — despite the rules being in force for nearly a decade. WBPCB was directed to initiate proceedings against erring officials, impose environmental compensation for past violations, and give a compliance report.