Raja Syed Rather
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine of Rs 12.62 crore on the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for significant violations of waste management regulations at the Achan Saidapora landfill site.
The tribunal also instructed the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) to initiate legal action against eight former SMC Commissioners who held office between 2017 and 2025. This decision follows years of environmental negligence, which resulted in the unscientific disposal of solid waste and contamination of nearby water bodies.
The case, Raja Muzaffar Bhat v/s Union of India & Others, was heard on March 20, 2025, by a three-member bench consisting of Justice Prakash Srivastava (Chairman), Justice Sudhir Aggarwal (Judicial Member), and Dr. Senthil Vel (Expert Member).
The tribunal raised serious concerns about the lack of proper waste management practices and noted that leachate from the landfill was flowing into surrounding water bodies, in direct violation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
During the proceedings, SMC Commissioner Dr. Owais Ahmad informed the tribunal that the city had accumulated nearly 11.5 lakh metric tons of legacy waste at Achan, and that bio-mining efforts to clear the waste would take at least two years.
In response, the tribunal directed him to submit a written commitment within ten days to clear the waste within the specified timeframe, emphasizing that regular monitoring would be carried out to ensure compliance.
The JKPCC presented a report revealing that the SMC had violated solid waste management norms for more than 1,800 days, from April 1, 2020, to March 10, 2025. Based on the “Polluter Pays” principle, the tribunal imposed a Rs 12.62 crore fine on the SMC.
Furthermore, the JKPCC informed the tribunal that civil proceedings would be initiated against the eight former SMC Commissioners who had failed to implement effective waste management policies during their tenures. The officers under scrutiny are Dr. Shafqat Khan, Reyaz Ahmad Wani, Peerzada Hafizullah Shah, Mir Tariq Ali, Khurshid Ahmad Sanai, Gazanfar Ali, Athar Aamir Khan, and the current commissioner, Dr. Owais Ahmad. Legal complaints are being finalized against them under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
In response to the tribunal’s orders, the SMC presented a comprehensive action plan aimed at achieving 100% scientific waste processing by March 2027. The plan includes a four-phase approach, starting with immediate actions such as operationalizing the leachate treatment plant, implementing odor control measures with bio-enzymes, and beginning bio-mining of legacy waste. In the short term, the municipal corporation plans to expand composting facilities, establish new garbage transfer stations, and enhance monitoring systems.
The medium-term goals include processing at least five lakh metric tons of waste and constructing a 300 TPD Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) plant and a 459 TPD Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) facility. The final phase, which is expected to be completed by early 2027, will involve full remediation of the Achan landfill and the creation of green buffer zones with the planting of 10,000 new trees.
To ensure accountability and transparency, the NGT has directed the SMC to submit monthly progress reports and ordered the JKPCC to conduct quarterly reviews. A public dashboard will also be set up to track the progress of the cleanup efforts in real-time.
This ruling marks a critical step towards addressing the long-standing waste management issues at the Achan landfill, ensuring that both the municipal corporation and its former leadership are held accountable for their role in the environmental crisis.
