Home / Environment / NGT Warns Haryana: Waste Ban Failure Means Official Prosecution
NGT Warns Haryana: Waste Ban Failure Means Official Prosecution
20 Feb
Summary
- NGT imposed a complete prohibition on waste dumping across Haryana.
- Continued non-compliance risks prosecution of senior pollution control officials.
- The tribunal mandated strict fines for waste violations ranging from Rs 5,000.
- NGT granted Haryana four weeks to submit complete compliance reports.
- Hearings scheduled for March 13, 2026, may escalate to compensation or prosecution.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has reminded Haryana of a statewide "complete prohibition" on littering and dumping solid waste, warning that persistent non-compliance could result in the prosecution of senior officials. This includes the chairman and member secretary of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). The tribunal has provided the state with four weeks to submit complete compliance reports, with the next hearing scheduled for March 13, 2026.
This case highlights Haryana's ongoing challenges with scientific waste management, marked by years of judicial scrutiny for failing to implement the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016. Previous NGT orders have noted rampant open dumping and a lack of functional processing facilities in smaller towns. The NGT's July 26, 2024 order reinforced a blanket ban on illegal dumping, emphasizing that municipal bodies were failing to prevent littering or penalize violators, thereby causing significant environmental degradation.
The tribunal's bench noted that compliance reports remained "materially deficient" and enforcement was inconsistent. The HSPCB's performance was criticized for allegedly ignoring statutory obligations. The NGT warned that continued inaction could lead to environmental compensation and prosecution of its top officials, referencing prior rulings that non-compliance with waste management directives is a punishable offense. Many smaller urban bodies in Haryana, including Dharuhera, face similar issues like the absence of processing plants and reliance on open dumping.
