Supreme court criticizes "complete failure" of solid waste management in Delhi

The Supreme Court has condemned the "complete failure" of authorities in Delhi to enforce the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and has called for immediate action. A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih emphasized that the rules, meant to address critical waste issues, have remained on paper with no real implementation.

In a stern directive, the bench ordered Delhi’s Chief Secretary to convene a meeting of all stakeholders, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), to formulate a time-bound plan for the implementation of the 2016 Rules. The court also mandated that a comprehensive report, outlining specific timelines for compliance, be submitted by December 13.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the court noted the accumulation of untreated waste in landfill sites prone to fires and the concurrent rise in construction activities contributing to waste generation. "This lack of action in Delhi paints a bleak picture for the rest of the country," the court observed.

The Delhi government has been asked to include data on the daily generation of solid waste in its report. The Supreme Court has also authorized the special secretary of Delhi’s environment department to involve central government officials if necessary. The bench warned that if stakeholders failed to cooperate, the court would intervene with stricter measures.

The issue arose in the context of the court’s ongoing hearing on pollution in Delhi-NCR. In October, the MCD admitted that by 2026, it would surpass its capacity to process the daily 11,000 tonnes of solid waste generated in the capital. This acknowledgment comes as untreated waste levels remain alarmingly high, threatening a public health crisis.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for December 16, signaling that non-compliance could result in severe consequences. The bench’s strong words reflect growing concerns about Delhi’s inability to tackle mounting waste and pollution, which continues to jeopardize public health and environmental safety.