Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Compliance of Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and other environmental issues dated 04/04/2024.

The matter is related to solid and liquid waste management by the state of Chhattisgarh.

The NGT expressed doubt on some of the figures mentioned in the six monthly report filed by the state as well as a presentation by the Chief Secretary, Chhattisgarh. "In respect of solid waste management in the urban area, it is stated that 100% source segregation is done at the urban area and nearly 100% (2048 TPD out of 2051 TPD) is done at the rural area which is difficult to believe", said the tribunal.

The court said that there was no clarification on the operation of solid liquid resource management (SLRM) with reference to waste processing, utilization of products and management of residues/rejects. On waste generation, quantities reported in the year 2023 and now, are the same and without any variation, the court pointed out.

In case of legacy waste, out of 10,17,440 MT legacy waste, 6,56,900 MT has been remediated except at Raipur and Rajnand Gaon. However, in the second six monthly report no details of legacy waste in quantitative terms are given. Further, in  case of sewage management, still there is a gap of 373.3 MLD in sewage treatment and in respect of 8 STPs, capacity of utilization is below the designed capacity. Further, no timeline has been given for completion of STPs for 423.7 MLD. The NGT said that an independent committee needs to be constituted to find out the correctness of the disclosures made in the report/presentation by Chhattisgarh.

The Joint Committee has been asked to thoroughly examine the second six monthly report dated April 1, 2024 and the presentation submitted by the Chief Secretary, Chhattisgarh and ascertain the correctness of the disclosures made after collecting the information from ground level.