February 23, 2026 : The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation to strengthen waste management practices in Indirapuram and ensure strict compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, while disposing of an environmental petition highlighting garbage dumping and sewage issues in the area.
The matter was heard by a bench led by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, along with Expert Member Dr. Afroz Ahmad. The case was filed by Gaurav Agarwal, who raised concerns that several locations in Indirapuram had effectively turned into dumping spots for municipal waste, with garbage piling up along roadsides and wastewater flowing into streets and stormwater drains.
According to the application, the situation indicated poor implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, particularly provisions that require local authorities to ensure proper collection, transportation and disposal of municipal waste. The applicant also submitted photographs to support the allegations.
During the proceedings, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) submitted a fresh affidavit detailing inspections conducted on 12 February 2026 at 17 locations identified in the complaint. The inspection found that waste had been cleared at most of the sites. However, small quantities of municipal and plastic waste were still present at a few locations, including areas near Rajhans Plaza and along Subhadra Joshi Marg. In one location, officials also noticed stagnation of wastewater.
The pollution control board noted that the responsibility for enforcing waste management rules and ensuring proper collection and disposal lies with the local body. It informed the tribunal that it had already written to the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation asking it to take necessary steps to address the issues identified during the inspection.
Counsel for the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation told the tribunal that action had been taken to clear the waste at the sites mentioned in the inspection report and that steps were being taken to ensure that garbage does not accumulate again.
However, the applicant argued that consistent monitoring was still lacking and that dustbins had not been placed at regular intervals in the area, making it difficult to prevent littering. The applicant also urged compliance with an earlier NGT order in another case that dealt with similar waste management issues in Uttar Pradesh.
The tribunal observed that regular monitoring of waste management is necessary and that prompt action must be taken whenever complaints about garbage accumulation are received. It also noted that there was no clear material on record showing that sufficient dustbins had been installed across the area to prevent littering.
While disposing of the application, the tribunal directed the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation and other authorities to strictly comply with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and implement the directions issued in the earlier case cited during the hearing. The civic body was also instructed to install dustbins at regular intervals in areas where waste is generated and to ensure that these bins are cleaned regularly.
The tribunal further ordered the municipal corporation to submit a status and action taken report within two months to the Registrar General of the NGT. The report must detail the steps taken to improve waste management in Indirapuram and ensure compliance with environmental norms.
Case Reference : Gaurav Agarwal, Applicant, versus State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors., Respondents; Counsels: Applicant – Mr. Gaurav Agarwal (Applicant in Person); Respondents – Mr. Bhanwar Pal Singh Jadon, Ms. Disha Tiwari, Ms. Gargi Chaturvedi, Ms. Anjali Sharma and Mr. Shivansh Sharma, Advocates for State of UP and UPPCB; Ms. Priyanka Swami, Advocate for DM, Ghaziabad (through VC); Mr. Malak Bhatt, Advocate for Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (through VC); Mr. Rachit Mittal, Mr. Parish Mishra, Mr. Kanishk Raj, Mr. Adarsh Srivastava and Mr. Abhishek Sinha, Advocates for GDA (Respondent No. 5) (through VC); Mr. Srinivas Vishven, Advocate for CPCB (through VC).
