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National Green Tribunal pulls up Himachal govt over Kullu waste crisis

The National Green Tribunal sought the Himachal chief secretary’s affidavit on the Kullu waste management issue, and its proceedings can run alongside the High Court’s suo motu case.

4 min readChandigarhUpdated: Nov 17, 2025 01:22 PM IST

All parties have been given one month to complete the remaining pleadings. The matter has been listed for final hearing on January 16, 2026.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pressed the Himachal Pradesh Government for a detailed, top-level account of solid waste management in Kullu, observing that the “magnitude of the problem” required stronger action and full compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

The case stems from a viral video published as a news item titled ‘From paradise to landfill?’ showing a popular Himachal hill station buried under garbage, prompting NGT to take suo motu cognisance earlier this year.

Pointing to the seriousness of the waste accumulation captured in the viral video, the Tribunal said last Thursday that despite action already initiated, additional “appropriate alternative arrangements” were needed. The order was uploaded Friday.

All parties have been given one month to complete the remaining pleadings. The matter has been listed for final hearing on January 16, 2026.

At the hearing, the Himachal Advocate General informed the Tribunal that the state High Court had also taken suo motu cognisance and was conducting independent monitoring through CWPIL 36 of 2025. He argued that, in view of orders passed by the High Court on June 19, July 24, September 1, October 10 and November 12, NGT may not proceed further.

The bench, however, declined to step back. It noted that the Tribunal had taken cognisance on June 5 and proceedings had already reached an “advanced stage of hearing.” Holding that both forums could proceed concurrently, NGT clarified that if any conflict arose, “the order passed by the Hon’ble Himachal Pradesh High Court shall prevail,” and the Tribunal’s order would be ignored only to the extent of such conflict.

After reviewing the replies filed so far, NGT directed the Himachal Pradesh chief secretary to submit an affidavit, either personally or through an authorised officer, detailing action taken to ensure compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, in the Kullu district.

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The Tribunal further directed the chief secretary to issue instructions to the adjudicating officer appointed under the amended Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 — specifically Sections 15, 15B and 15C as revised through the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 — to take suo motu cognisance of violations and impose penalties on defaulting departments, officers and private parties. Relevant details must also be included in the affidavit.

To ensure accountability across departments, NGT also impleaded the chief secretary as respondent no. 6, and the principal secretaries of Urban Development and Rural Development departments as respondents no. 7 and 8.

Notices were accepted in court by the Advocate General. These departments must file their own responses, detailing compliance with Rules 11 and 13 of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

While the deputy commissioner, Kullu, has already submitted a reply dated November 10, the Tribunal directed him to file an additional response specifically addressing compliance with the waste management rules.

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Respondent no. 5, responsible for municipal waste management, was asked to furnish a comprehensive, tabulated account of compliance with Clause (a) to Clause (zl) of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

The Tribunal noted that although the municipal body claimed to have e-filed its reply on November 12, the Registry was unable to retrieve it. NGT asked the Registry to ascertain why the e-filed reply did not reflect on the portal and to coordinate with NIC for corrective action.

NGT directed the local body to work with the District Environment Committee, headed by the deputy commissioner, to put these in place and file a detailed compliance report within two months.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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