NGT summons Punjab Mandi Board over garbage mismanagement

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has summoned the deputy general manager of the Punjab Mandi Board to appear in court on July 10. This is in response to ongoing issues with waste management at a wholesale vegetable market in Ludhiana. The case was brought to the NGT's attention by local activists in 2023. Petitioners Kapil Arora and Gagnish Khurana described serious problems with how garbage is handled at the market. They allege that the board has not followed recommendations from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). These recommendations included banning single-use plastics and managing waste according to regulations. The NGT formed a committee to look into these claims. Its report supported the petitioners' concerns, stating that the mandi board is still burning and dumping garbage, which harms the environment and public health. The board's counsel argued that they have taken steps to address the issues, including signing a memorandum with the municipal corporation and installing a machine to handle waste. However, the petitioners challenged these claims. They stated that the installed machine is just a compactor, not one for composting. They also pointed out that garbage fires still occur and single-use plastics are still sold at the market. The NGT has asked the board to correct the issues and report back within two weeks.