Supreme Court verdict in Bhopal Adampur Khanti case:Collectors to get direct powers, on-the-spot fines via mobile courts; all states asked to frame plans

The Supreme Court’s hearing on the recurring fires at Bhopal’s Adampur landfill has raised questions about the waste management system across the country. On Tuesday, the Court indicated that a plan would be prepared to grant direct powers to collectors under the Environment Protection Act 1986 for waste management and to establish mobile courts, so that action and penalties can be imposed on the spot. The Court has asked all states to submit a concrete report by the next hearing on May 22, detailing a roadmap for empowering collectors, a plan for waste segregation and processing, and a system for penalties and mobile courts. In fact, environmentalist Dr. Subhash C. Pandey had filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal in March 2023 regarding the recurring fires at Bhopal’s Adampur landfill. Following this, a fine of 1 crore 80 lakh rupees was imposed on the Bhopal Municipal Corporation on July 31, 2023. The corporation approached the Supreme Court against the fine, where the hearing has been ongoing since May 16, 2025. In this case, 6 senior officials, including the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, have also been made respondents. Chief Secretaries from across the country called for the hearing Dr. Subhash C. Pandey informed that the Supreme Court stated that this case is not limited to Bhopal or Indore, but is a problem for the entire state. Chief Secretaries from various parts of the country were called for this hearing. The court has clearly stated that the rules are not being followed properly. In such a situation, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan will not be fully implemented. Some CS also shared their problems. They also spoke to chief secretaries from Karnataka, MP, Bihar, and others. They said that they are making a new plan. Dr. Pandey said, the court stated that for one year, the power under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, is being given to the Collector. This means all powers will be taken from the Pollution Control Board and the corporation and given to the Collectors. All Chief Secretaries have also agreed. The next hearing will be on May 22, where details about today’s Supreme Court order, such as giving power to the Collector, waste segregation, penalties, etc., will be discussed. Mobile courts will also be run to impose fines on the spot. In the previous hearing, the Supreme Court had said this Dr. Pandey stated, the Supreme Court had said in the previous hearing that the Solid Waste Management Rules 2026 would come into effect from April 1. The new rules are fully involved in identifying and solving the problem of solid waste management in the country. To fulfill the objective of this rule, it is deemed appropriate to issue such directives that apply not only to the Bhopal Municipal Corporation but to the entire country. The reason for this is that the compliance status by local bodies according to SWM Rules, 2016 is either partially compliant or not compliant at all. Situation not good in annual report The court had stated that the Central Pollution Control Board’s annual report on waste management 2021-2022 indicates that approximately 1.70 lakh tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste (TPD) is generated daily in the country from domestic, commercial, industrial, and ancillary activities. While collection efficiency has improved in many cities like Bhopal and Indore, the processing rate still remains a major impediment. Unprocessed waste often ends up in unscientific landfills or old dumpsites. The Supreme Court said, “Today’s generation cannot wait for further legal reforms as long as the existing implementation deficiencies persist. There is an urgent need to immediately comply with the existing orders, effective from April 1, regarding the accumulation of old waste and the contamination of groundwater and air.” Responsible representatives are also those who respond according to the needs of the time. The rules are simple and need to be learned and implemented with a little participation from corporators, councilors/mayors, their chairpersons, and ward members, in conjunction with the administration of local bodies. This was said about Bhopal’s case At the end of the last hearing, regarding the case related to Bhopal Corporation, it was stated that in the matter of the Adampur Cantonment dump site, some more paperwork needs to be completed for the old garbage. It will take some more time to finalize the tender, therefore, she requests two weeks’ time to finalize the tender in this matter. She is granted this time. Bhopal’s Ground Reality Fire had broken out three days ago as well A fire had broken out at the Adampur landfill three days ago as well. A day before, a puja (prayer) was performed to start the work of disposing of the legacy waste dumped at the landfill. The fire affected both the legacy waste and the new dry waste. This new dry waste was to be used to make torrefied charcoal at the NTPC plant. Due to the fire, smoke once again spread in the area and villagers were troubled throughout the day. 6.5 to 7.5 lakh metric tons of legacy waste accumulated at the site Following the Supreme Court’s strictness regarding the disposal of legacy waste dumped at Khanti, the corporation issued a work order to Saurashtra Enviro Private Limited on March 26. An estimated 6.5 to 7.5 lakh metric tons of legacy waste is accumulated at the site. The company will be paid 55 crore rupees for this.