Report by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) in Original Application No 199 of 2023 in the matter of Kapil Dev & Others Vs State of Punjab & Others.

The matter related to unscientific dumping and littering of garbage in Sabji mandi, Ludhiana, Punjab. The Punjab Mandi Board was supposed to provide mechanical composter or compost pits for the management of solid waste, within 2 months, but the Mandi Board has failed to install the same till date. According to the District Mandi officer, Ludhiana, earlier Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana had proposed to install a compactor at Sabji mandi but for the installation of the same land was required to be handed over to the municipal corporation, but it was not accepted. Presently, there is no provision for the processing of the waste inside the mandi premises but a separate waste collection has been provided in the mandi premises.

Assistant engineer, municipal corporation, Ludhiana has said that the technical consultant of the MCL can help Mandi Board for preparation of a detailed project report for the bio methanation plant. Health officer, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana informed that MCL had already imposed compensation of Rs 37,55,000 upon the Mandi Board, Ludhiana for not making arrangements for the management of waste.

The applicant, Kapil Dev in his application before the NGT said that garbage was burned and dumped illegally into the ground (biodegradable as well as non-biodegradable) illegally into the ground after excavation using JCBs.

Note: The report of February 15, 2024 was uploaded to the NGT site, March 7, 2024