NGT Takes Action Against Ajmer Officials for Waste Cleanup Delays
The National Green Tribunal's central zonal bench in Bhopal has issued formal notices to multiple officials in Ajmer, including the Municipal Corporation commissioner, regarding alleged non-compliance with a crucial environmental order. The notices, which were uploaded on Monday, demand responses within a strict four-week timeframe.
Background of the Environmental Directive
This legal action stems from an execution application filed by petitioner Ashok Malik, who highlighted that the tribunal's July 7, 2023 order had not been properly implemented. In that original directive, the NGT had mandated the Ajmer Municipal Corporation to complete comprehensive legacy waste remediation, commonly known as bio-mining, at the Makhupura trenching ground on Nasirabad Road within six months. The authorities were also required to submit a detailed compliance report documenting their progress.
Conflicting Reports and Unfinished Work
However, in a revealing reply dated December 22, 2025, the civic body admitted that the remediation work remained incomplete, clearly indicating that the tribunal's order had not been fully carried out. Malik pointed to the AMC's own compliance data, which showed that out of 3.36 lakh cubic metres of legacy waste identified in a December 2019 survey, approximately 3.30 lakh cubic metres had been processed by June 19, 2024. This discrepancy suggests the cleanup missed the tribunal's original deadline.
The petitioner further alleged that AMC records contained conflicting figures regarding the actual status of the environmental cleanup, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability.
Ongoing Environmental Hazards
The execution application emphasized that the waste at the trenching ground continues to present significant environmental risks. Fresh garbage from the city is reportedly still being dumped at the same site, compounding the existing pollution problems. Additionally, there are allegations that wastewater from the dump is seeping into the ground, causing further environmental damage and potentially contaminating local soil and water resources.
Officials Named in the Case
The respondents named in this environmental compliance case include:
- The Ajmer Municipal Corporation commissioner
- The Rajasthan Pollution Control Board secretary
- The Ajmer district collector
- Other relevant officials responsible for waste management and environmental oversight
This development underscores the ongoing challenges in municipal waste management and the NGT's continued vigilance in enforcing environmental regulations across India.
