1 week ago
Supreme Court Orders Power, Water Cuts for Waste Violations
The Supreme Court has ordered stronger enforcement of waste-management rules.
The rules apply to bulk waste generators, which produce large amounts of waste.
These generators must separate, store and hand over their waste properly.
District Collectors must find all such generators in their areas within six weeks.
Local authorities must explain the rules and penalties to them in writing.
If a generator does not follow the rules, its electricity or water may be temporarily disconnected.
The supply can return when the generator provides a compliance certificate.
A committee will monitor whether the rules are being put into practice.
Bulk waste generators that fail to follow the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, may face temporary disconnection of electricity or water.
The disconnections can be restored after a bulk waste generator submits a compliance certificate.
District Collectors must identify all bulk waste generators in their jurisdictions within six weeks, working with local bodies.
Local bodies must inform bulk waste generators in writing about waste segregation, storage and handover obligations.
The Supreme Court directed the monitoring committee to ensure statutory committees and enforcement mechanisms are implemented.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, District Collectors, local bodies and bulk waste generators.
- What
- The court ordered enforcement of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, including possible temporary power or water disconnections for non-compliant bulk waste generators.
- Where
- Within the jurisdictions of the respective District Collectors.
- When
- The directions were issued on Tuesday; District Collectors have six weeks to identify bulk waste generators.
- Why
- To ensure bulk waste generators segregate, store and hand over solid waste as required by the Rules.
Key facts
- Affected entities
- Bulk waste generators, or BWGs
- Relevant rules
- Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026
- Possible penalty
- Temporary disconnection of water or electricity
- Restoration condition
- Submission of a compliance certificate
- Identification deadline
- Six weeks
- Responsible authorities
- District Collectors, local bodies and the monitoring committee
- Required practices
- Segregation, storage and handover of solid waste
Quotes
Justices S V N Bhatti and N V Anjaria
Supreme Court judges
“Every local body shall, through its Chairman/Commissioner/Secretary, as directed by the jurisdictional District Collector, communicate in writing to every BWG within its limits the obligations viz, (i) segregation, storage and handover of solid waste generated; and (ii) the consequence of non-compliance resulting in the temporary disconnection of water and electricity supply by order of the District Collector’s Special Cell, restorable upon submission of a compliance certificate by the BWG.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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