The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has stepped into a dispute concerning a waste processing facility in the heart of Bhubaneswar, issuing formal notices to multiple state and civic authorities. The action follows a petition filed by a local organisation challenging the operation of a micro composting centre (MCC) in GA Colony, Bharatpur, within the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) limits.
Allegations of Norm Violations and Health Hazards
The petition, filed under the National Green Tribunal Act of 2010, raises serious allegations against the establishment of the composting plant. The core complaint is that the facility has been set up immediately adjacent to residential houses without maintaining any mandatory buffer zone. This proximity, the petitioners argue, is causing a continuous nuisance and poses significant health risks to the local community.
Residents, particularly senior citizens, women, and children, are reportedly suffering due to the persistent stench, ongoing waste handling activities, and the plant's round-the-clock operations, making their daily life "unbearable." The petition further claims that the MCC, which has a processing capacity of over 10 metric tonnes of waste per day, is operating without obtaining the legally required Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB).
NGT's Prima Facie View and Notices Issued
After hearing the arguments from the petitioner's counsels, Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy, the NGT's East Zone bench in Kolkata took cognizance of the matter. The bench, comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Ishwar Singh, observed on December 17 that the petition's contents prima facie raise substantial environmental questions related to laws under the NGT Act's purview.
Consequently, the tribunal has issued notices to a wide array of officials and bodies, including:
- The Commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC)
- Secretaries of the Housing & Urban Development, Forest & Environment, and Revenue & Disaster Management departments
- The District Collector of Khurda
- The Commissioner of Police
- Member Secretaries of both the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
All respondents have been directed to file their detailed responses within one month. The case has been listed for its next hearing on February 25, 2026.
Key Legal Contentions in the Petition
The petition grounds its challenge in specific environmental regulations. It cites the Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016, which mandate that such waste processing facilities cannot be located within 200 metres of human habitation, ponds, public parks, or water supply sources. The alleged violation of this buffer zone rule is a central pillar of the case.
Furthermore, a significant allegation is that the plant has been constructed on forest land without securing the necessary clearance for non-forestry use. The petitioners state that the due process of law, including public notification of the selected site, was not followed for this land use change, adding another layer of potential illegality to the project's establishment.
The NGT's intervention marks a critical juncture for residents of GA Colony and sets the stage for a detailed legal examination of urban waste management practices against the backdrop of environmental compliance and public health in Odisha's capital.
