Pune: NGT Pulls Up PMC Over Inaction On Garbage Burning, Demands Action Plan To Tackle Air Pollution
Pune: NGT Pulls Up PMC Over Inaction On Garbage Burning, Demands Action Plan To Tackle Air Pollution
Pune: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has reprimanded the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for failing to comply with its earlier directives on curbing garbage burning and improving air quality in the city. The tribunal’s western zonal bench has directed the PMC to submit a detailed response within two weeks outlining corrective measures.
The order was passed during a hearing on July 2, following an execution application filed by the citizens’ group Citizens for Area Sabha. The group alleged that the civic body had failed to enforce the NGT’s May 29, 2024 order, which mandated monthly reviews of garbage burning incidents and the publication of ‘action taken’ reports on the PMC’s official website.
The bench, comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and expert member Vijay Kulkarni, took serious note of the PMC’s non-compliance and instructed the civic body to file its affidavit via the NGT’s e-filing portal. The tribunal also directed the citizens’ group to provide relevant supporting documents to the PMC within a week. The next hearing has been scheduled for July 25, 2025.
Advocate Shubham Rathod, appearing for PMC, accepted the tribunal’s notice during the proceedings. The bench allowed the applicant group to file a rejoinder, if required, within one week after receiving PMC’s response.
This case stems from a news report published in December 2023 highlighting rampant garbage burning in Pune and its impact on the city’s deteriorating air quality. The NGT had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of the issue and stressed on strict monitoring and accountability by civic authorities.
Environmentalists and residents have welcomed the tribunal’s tough stance, hoping it will push PMC to act decisively against open garbage burning, a major contributor to air pollution.
