Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Supreme Court on Friday reprimanded the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) over massive fire that broke out at the Adampur landfill in April this year, and ordered an investigation by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The apex court’s directions came while hearing a petition originally filed by environmentalist Dr. Subhash C. Pandey before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), highlighting the recurring fire hazards at the Adampur garbage dump. The NGT had earlier imposed a Rs 1.80 crore fine on BMC, which the civic body challenged in the Supreme Court.
During the hearing, petitioner’s counsel Harshvardhan Pandey presented photographs of recent fire incidents at the site and drew the court’s attention to the April 22 blaze, which lasted for several days and severely impacted nearby villages with thick smoke.
The Supreme Court observed that such a crisis could have been avoided had waste management rules been followed. It criticised the civic body for allowing garbage to accumulate unchecked.
In a significant direction, the court ordered BMC to provide health check-ups and medical facilities to residents of villages around the landfill, including Padriya and Bilkhiriya, which were severely affected by the fire and air pollution.
The court also noted the absence of a green buffer zone around the landfill and instructed CPCB to investigate and submit a report within six weeks. The matter will next be heard on July 25.
Apex court order
Supreme Court reprimands BMC over mismanagement of Adampur landfill fire
CPCB directed to probe fire incident; report to be submitted in six weeks
BMC ordered to provide health check-ups and medical aid to affected villagers
Court notes absence of green belt around landfill site
Next hearing scheduled for July 25
