NGT transfers case over illegal waste and biomedical dumping near Panihati Playground in West Bengal to its Kolkata bench for further hearing.

February 23, 2026 : The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has transferred a case concerning alleged illegal dumping of municipal and biomedical waste near a public playground in West Bengal to its Eastern Zone Bench in Kolkata for further hearing.

The matter, registered as Original Application No. 109/2026, arose from a complaint submitted by Aman Gupta through the Tribunal’s Public Grievances Portal. The complaint was treated as a suo motu case in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha (2022), which allows environmental courts to initiate proceedings based on credible public complaints.

According to the complaint, a large mound of mixed waste has allegedly accumulated near the entrance of Panihati Playground in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. The dumping site is said to lie just a few metres from the playground boundary and within a densely populated urban area surrounded by residential buildings, shops and small industrial establishments.

The complainant alleged that the garbage pile, estimated to be between 5 and 10 feet high and spread over about 40 to 50 feet, contains household waste, plastic packaging, market refuse and construction debris. More concerning, the dump reportedly includes biomedical waste such as blood-stained cotton, used syringes, plaster casts, expired medicines, sanitary waste and other clinical materials. Decomposed carcasses of animals, including dogs, cats and poultry, were also reportedly present at the site.

The complaint stated that the foul smell from decomposing waste can be detected from hundreds of metres away and has caused significant inconvenience to residents and visitors. It also alleged that the dumping ground has become a breeding site for flies, mosquitoes and rodents, raising concerns about the spread of diseases such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya. The presence of animals and snakes drawn to the waste has further increased safety risks for people using the playground.

Panihati Playground, which hosts daily sports practice sessions, community tournaments and evening walks for residents, has reportedly been affected by the situation. According to the complaint, the playground committee had to lock the main entrance gate to prevent exposure to hazardous waste and stray animals.

The applicant also claimed that repeated complaints to the Panihati Municipality had not resulted in meaningful action. Authorities were accused of failing to ensure door-to-door waste collection, segregation of waste at source and proper disposal as required under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The complaint also alleged violations of the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 by local clinics and healthcare facilities that were allegedly disposing of medical waste improperly.

When the matter came up before the Principal Bench of the NGT in New Delhi on February 23, 2026, no one appeared on behalf of the applicant and no supporting materials were produced during the hearing. After examining the complaint, the bench comprising Judicial Member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Ishwar Singh observed that the cause of action falls within the territorial jurisdiction of the NGT’s Eastern Zone Bench in Kolkata.

In view of this, the Tribunal directed its registry to list the matter before the Eastern Zone Bench on March 23, 2026, after obtaining the necessary administrative orders for transferring the case. The registry was also instructed to inform the applicant about the next hearing date and ask him to participate in the proceedings either physically or through video conferencing while submitting any supporting material available.

The case is expected to be examined further by the Kolkata bench, which will consider the environmental and public health concerns raised in the complaint.

Case Reference : Original Application No. 109/2026, Aman Gupta vs. State of West Bengal & Ors.; Coram: Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi (Judicial Member) and Ishwar Singh (Expert Member); Applicant: None; Order dated 23.02.2026, National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi.