National Green Tribunal Intervenes in Amritsar Waste Dumping Controversy
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has stepped into a contentious environmental dispute in Amritsar, directing the municipal corporation to provide a detailed affidavit regarding illegal waste dumping activities in Block D and E of Ranjit Avenue. This directive comes in response to conflicting reports submitted by the Amritsar Municipal Corporation and the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), which have presented contradictory accounts of the situation at the site.
Contradictory Reports and Tribunal's Response
Advocate Sumeer Sharma, representing local residents who filed the petition, revealed on Tuesday that while the Pollution Control Board confirmed ongoing dumping violations of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, the municipal corporation claimed that all waste had been cleared from the area. The NGT has now mandated that the civic body clarify the actual status of the site through a sworn affidavit.
Simultaneously, the tribunal has instructed the PPCB to disclose specific steps taken to recover environmental compensation amounting to Rs 8.6 crore, which was previously imposed on the corporation for earlier violations. This substantial penalty remains outstanding despite prior directives.
Ongoing Violations and Public Health Concerns
According to Advocate Sharma, authorities have attempted to conceal illegal activities by erecting boundary walls around the dumping site. However, toxic smoke from burning waste continues to adversely affect nearby residents, schoolchildren, and daily commuters. The situation has persisted despite the tribunal's earlier order on November 7, 2025, which required immediate remedial action from the municipal corporation and verification from the pollution control board.
"Inspection findings revealed that nearly one acre of land was being used to dump approximately 60 tonnes of mixed municipal waste daily, collected from various parts of North Amritsar," stated Sharma, expressing astonishment at the contradictory positions taken by different government bodies.
Scale and Impact of the Dumping Operation
The case involves large-scale unauthorized dumping of mixed municipal waste in a densely populated residential area surrounded by schools, parks, and commercial establishments. Originally designated solely for parking waste collection vehicles, the land was unlawfully converted into a dumping and transfer site, resulting in significant environmental degradation and creating serious public health hazards for the community.
Due to continued non-compliance with the tribunal's directives, an execution application has been filed seeking enforcement of previous orders. "Despite these clear directions, illegal dumping and burning have continued unabated," emphasized Sharma, highlighting the persistent nature of the violations and the urgent need for effective intervention to protect both environmental integrity and public welfare in Amritsar.
