NEW DELHI, October 19 — The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued definitive environmental compliance directions on Monday mandating all state municipal administrations to complete 100% bioremediation and biomining across legacy solid waste dumpsites in cities with populations exceeding 1 million.
Addressing deep environmental degradation at notorious landfill sites including Ghazipur and Bhalswa in Delhi, Deonar in Mumbai, and Dhapa in Kolkata, the Tribunal noted that unlined waste mounds discharge heavy metal leachate into regional aquifers while emitting combustible methane clouds that trigger persistent toxic urban blazes. The bench ordered rigorous separation into Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) for cement kilns, inert construction aggregates, and soil enrichers in compliance with Solid Waste Management Rules 2016.
The Tribunal cautioned that default by urban local bodies will attract coercive environmental compensation levies of up to ₹1 Crore per month under the 'Polluter Pays Principle', linking urban performance to Central financial releases under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0.
The statutory constitution of the National Green Tribunal under the NGT Act 2010 (enforcing environmental rights under Article 21), technical principles of biomining versus bioremediation, the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, and municipal governance reforms are foundational topics for UPSC GS-III Environment.