Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 14: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a penalty of Rs 15,000 on the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for failing to comply with its earlier directions regarding the management of legacy waste at the Achan landfill site.
During the hearing of Original Application No. 543/2024, the bench headed by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr. A. Senthil Vel noted that the municipal body had not submitted a required undertaking or progress report as directed in an order dated March 20, 2025.
In that previous order, the Tribunal had taken serious note of approximately 11 lakh metric tons of legacy waste lying at the landfill and a daily treatment shortfall of 350–400 tonnes per day (TPD).
The SMC had then presented a phased action plan and was directed to file an undertaking within ten days, committing to complete the remediation within stipulated timelines.
However, no such undertaking or progress report was filed on time.
During the hearing, the counsel for the Municipal Corporation informed the Tribunal that a fresh report had been submitted only a day before, but it had not been placed on record due to delay.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the lapse, the NGT imposed the cost of Rs 15,000, to be deposited with the NGT Bar Association within one week.
The belated status report will be taken on record only after the penalty is paid and if it is found to be defect-free, the NGT stated.
The Tribunal further directed the SMC to file an updated report at least one week before the next hearing, detailing the current status of the legacy waste, facilities for daily waste treatment, and the existing gap between waste generation and processing.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on April 8, 2026.
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