The National Green Tribunal has set January 9, 2026, as the crucial date to assess the progress in clearing legacy waste that has plagued Bargarh town for more than ten years. The eastern zone bench of NGT in Kolkata issued this timeline while addressing concerns about environmental damage and health hazards caused by the accumulating garbage.
Residents Demand Action Against Authorities
The case reached the tribunal through a petition filed by Ramakanta Rout and six other residents of Purushotam Nagar in ward number 15 under Bargarh municipality. Represented by advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy, the petitioners sought criminal proceedings against local authorities for their failure to implement previous NGT orders dated March 23, 2023.
The residents argued that the prolonged delay in waste remediation has created severe environmental damage and health risks for people living near the dumping sites. Their legal team emphasized that the authorities had consistently ignored the tribunal's directives regarding waste removal and treatment.
Government Response and Tribunal's Dissatisfaction
During the latest hearing on October 30, 2025, the bench comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member JM Ishwar Singh reviewed an affidavit submitted by Bargarh District Collector Aditya Goyal on behalf of the state government. However, the tribunal expressed significant dissatisfaction with Bargarh municipality's failure to file an appropriate affidavit detailing their compliance efforts.
The tribunal issued a stern warning, stating that compliance with their orders would be thoroughly examined during the next hearing, and exemplary costs might be imposed if any non-compliance is detected. This strong stance underscores the seriousness with which the NGT views the waste management crisis in Bargarh.
Financial Allocation and Progress Report
According to the March 2023 directive, the tribunal had ordered complete treatment of legacy waste through bio-mining, micro-composting centers, or material recovery facilities by December 31, 2023. The Odisha government was also instructed to deposit Rs 1.84 crore in an escrow account to fund the cleanup operation.
Following up on this, the NGT directed Bargarh municipality on July 28, 2025, to file a detailed affidavit explaining how the allocated funds were being utilized. In his October 29 affidavit, District Collector Goyal revealed that Rs 1.22 crore had already been released by the state government to the municipality for the waste management project.
The affidavit detailed several measures taken, including securing the dumpsite at ward number 15 with a 420-foot-long, 12-foot-high boundary wall to prevent contamination of surrounding areas. Additionally, bio-mining work is currently progressing across nearly two acres under Bargarh tehsil jurisdiction.
Revised Waste Treatment Strategy
Initially, the municipality had proposed establishing five sewage treatment plants across the town. However, due to land availability constraints, the plan has been modified. The municipality now proposes a single 12 MLD wastewater treatment plant on 8.25 acres at Ruhungia under Bargarh tehsil to cater to the town's future needs.
This consolidated approach aims to provide a more sustainable solution for Bargarh's waste management challenges while optimizing the use of available resources and land.
As the January 2026 deadline approaches, all eyes remain on Bargarh municipality to demonstrate substantial progress in tackling the decade-old waste problem that has been affecting both the environment and public health in the region.
