The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Central Zone Bench, Bhopal, has directed the Jaipur Municipal Corporation Greater (JMC-G) to rigorously enforce the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules. This directive came after the tribunal heard a petition alleging the illegal operation of a garbage transfer station near Fun Kingdom Road in Mansarovar.
Petition and Allegations
The petition, filed by residents of SFS Colony and surrounding areas, claimed that an open garbage depot operating on Rajasthan Housing Board (RHB) land near the RIICO Industrial Area had been a major source of pollution and health hazards since 2021. Residents expressed concerns over potential groundwater contamination, foul odors, bird menace, and risks to aviation safety due to the site's proximity to Jaipur International Airport.
Inspection and Findings
A joint committee constituted by the tribunal inspected the site and reported that the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) transfer station had been functioning since 2018 on approximately 12,000 square meters between the Dravyawati river and the RIICO area. The report stated, "Around 200 metric tonnes of waste from Mansarovar and Sanganer zones are brought daily through nearly 85 hopper vehicles before being transported to the waste-to-energy plant at Langariyawas." The committee identified several deficiencies, including the absence of impervious lining to prevent leachate seepage, lack of a boundary wall, no fire safety arrangements, and no authorization under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. It also noted the presence of nearly 50 temporary shelters occupied by waste workers and ragpickers.
Regulatory Actions
The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) had issued a show-cause notice to the civic body for violations of the Water Act, Air Act, and SWM rules. However, JMC argued that the site is only a temporary transfer station, not a dumping yard. The corporation informed the tribunal that waste is shifted daily to processing facilities at Langariyawas and Sewapura, and no waste is retained overnight.
Proposed Improvements
An official stated, "The corporation submitted that a 300 TPD (tonnes per day) mechanized transfer station under the CITIIS 2.0 sustainable urban infrastructure program has been proposed through Jaipur Smart City Limited. Construction of a boundary wall and impervious flooring is currently underway." The Central Ground Water Board, after testing water samples from a nearby PHED water tank through a NABL-accredited laboratory, informed the tribunal that all major parameters were within BIS drinking water standards except for marginally high nitrate levels, and no conclusive evidence of groundwater contamination was found. The tribunal also noted that no incidents of open burning of waste were reported at the site.
Final Directives
Disposing of the application, the NGT directed municipal authorities to ensure scientific disposal of legacy waste within a fixed timeframe and implement SWM Rules in "letter and spirit." It issued directions to manufacturers and brand owners regarding disposal and recycling responsibilities for plastic packaging, sanitary waste, and other disposable products.
