Acting on a petititon against four units, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has now formed a panel to act on the concerns of commericial and industrial establishments polluting Bhopal’s air in close proximity to densely populated areas by using diesel and solid waste fuel in their operations.
The petitioner has identified four units working in contravention of environmental law but has claimed that there are several such units in the city.
The Bhopal-based central bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a joint committee consisting of a representative each from director, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), district collector Bhopal and member secretary, MP Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) to visit the site of commercial establishments allegedly using diesel and solid waste fuel in their working, thus polluting the atmosphere of the city and contributing to increase air pollution in Bhopal city. The committee has been asked to give a factual and action taken report within 6 weeks. The petitioner in the case in question, Gaurav Saxena, had named four such units in his petition but said that there are several such units in Bhopal.
The tribunal comprising judicial member Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Ishwar Singh further directed the respondents including the state government, MPPCB, CPCB, Bhopal municipal corporation (BMC) and the four ‘polluting’ units named in the petition and has sought a reply from them within 6 weeks while listing the case for next hearing on Nov 4, 2025. Counsel for the petitioner Dharmvir Sharma and Yashdeep Thakur contended the petition has been filed for conservation of air environment in the city of Bhopal against units, who are Red category industries/units operating in violation of established environmental law and in very close proximity of densely populated areas like ISBT, Rani Kamlapati railway station, schools and colleges, hospital and residential areas. Naming four such units in the petition including a large public sector unit, two milk processing units and a private hospital, they said that use of diesel and briquette biomass solid waste by them is causing harmful effect on the health of people due to air pollution and would continue to do so in the long run if not stopped now. Thakur while talking to TOI, however, said that the malady is not limited to these 4 units only but there are several more units across Bhopal city, who are using ‘polluting’ fuel.
The petition said that use of diesel and solid waste fuel was in direct violation to National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the action plan prepared by MPPCB on the direction of NGT, Delhi, in the year 2018. The petitioner submitted that the mandatory obligation on the part of respondent units and state statutory authorities to attain the result of ambient air quality(AAQ) as non-attainment city in country, particularly Bhopal, shall not be fulfilled if the NGT, Delhi’s directions is not complied with in letter and spirit, they said.
Hence, the prayer that in any case the use of diesel, briquette, solid fuel and furnace oil should not be allowed in the midst of the city, particularly when the central govt has launched the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) for non-attainment cities. Therefore, use of Briquette biomass solid waste & Diesel boilers may kindly be prohibited and stopped in the interest of ambient air quality in Bhopal, as ordered by the NGT New Delhi, the petitioner added. After hearing arguments of the counsels for the petitioner, members of the green watchdog said that a substantial issue of environmental concern has been raised in the petition and asked for issuing a notice to all the respondents, seeking a reply within 6 weeks.
The tribunal further said on the matter, “We deem it just and proper to call a report on the matter from a joint committee consisting of one representative each from the director, CPCB, collector, Bhopal and the member secretary, state pollution control board, Bhopal (MP).”
The NGT order also said that the committee is directed to visit the site. The state PCB will be the nodal agency for coordination and support.
