Blinkit in the dock again, Noida authority slaps Rs 1 lakh fine for flouting solid waste norms

Actions follows inspection at facility in Noida Sector 4

Anti-plastic drives were also conducted in Sector 11’s H Block and X Block markets, where a total of 45 kg of single-use plastic was confiscated from shopkeepers.

The Noida Authority imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on Blink Commerce Pvt Ltd, the legal entity behind quick-commerce platform Blinkit Monday, for alleged violations of solid waste management rules following an inspection at a Blinkit facility at Sector 4.

Officials said garbage was being dumped and burnt on a public road, in violation of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016.

“In view of the deficiencies found and non-compliance with SWM Rules, a financial penalty of Rs 1 lakh has been imposed. Strict instructions have also been issued that punitive action will be taken if violations continue,” the Noida Authority said in a statement.

The inspection was carried out under the leadership of the Public Health Officer, as part of ground-level checks being conducted across the city to improve Noida’s ranking in Swachh Survekshan, an annual national cleanliness survey.

As part of the enforcement drive on Monday, officials inspected Cloud Kitchen A 37 operated by M/s KIC Food Products Pvt Ltd at Sector 8, where around 300 kg of single-use plastic was seized. The use of such plastic is prohibited in Noida.

Anti-plastic drives were also conducted in Sector 11’s H Block and X Block markets, where a total of 45 kg of single-use plastic was confiscated from shopkeepers.

The action comes close on the heels of a much larger penalty imposed earlier this month on Blink Commerce, over repeated violations by the company’s cloud kitchen operations.

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On December 16, the Noida Authority had imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on a cloud kitchen in Sector 62 for alleged violations of solid waste management and plastic ban norms. During that inspection, officials found that waste was not being segregated at source, liquid waste was being discharged directly into sewer lines, and garbage was being handed over to unauthorised scrap dealers who were allegedly dumping waste at multiple locations across the city.

Officials had also seized around 50 kg of single-use plastic containers from the premises at Sector 62 and noted that food waste and garbage had been dumped in nearby parks and open spaces.

“Such practices are unacceptable for bulk waste generators,” the Authority had said at the time, warning of stricter action in case of continued non-compliance.

Blinkit, which began as a platform delivering groceries and daily essentials, expanded earlier this year into the ready-to-eat food segment. Its recently launched vertical, Bistro by Blinkit, delivers items such as coffee, sandwiches, rolls and burgers, finger foods, all-day breakfast options, cakes, tea, chaat, juices, coolers and shakes, with deliveries promised within 15 minutes.

Saman Husain

Saman Husain is a Correspondent at The Indian Express. Based in New Delhi, she is an emerging voice in political journalism, reporting on civic governance, elections, migration, and the social consequences of policy, with a focus on ground-reporting across Delhi-NCR and western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (Honours) from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, and is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beats: Her reporting focuses on the national capital’s governance and politics. She specializes in Delhi’s civic administration and the city units of the BJP, AAP and Congress. In western Uttar Pradesh, she mostly reports on crime. Specialization: She has a keen interest in electoral processes and politics — her recent contributions include work on electoral roll revisions. Recent Notable Articles (since July 2025) Her recent work reflects a strong show-not-tell approach to storytelling, combining narrative reporting with political and historical context: 1. Politics: “On the banks of the Yamuna, a political tussle for Purvanchali support” (October 6): A report on how migration histories shaped electoral strategies in Delhi before the Bihar elections. “Explained: How Delhi’s natural drainage vanished gradually over the centuries” (September 29): An explanatory piece tracing the historical reasons that eventually led to the erosion of Delhi’s rivers and its impact on perrenial flooding. 2. Longforms “Four weddings, three funerals: How a Uttar Pradesh man swindled insurance companies” (October 7): A long-read reconstructing a chilling fraud by a man who killed three of his family members, including both his parents for insurance proceeds. His fourth wife discovered his fraud… “How Ghaziabad conman operated fake embassy of a country that doesn’t exist — for 9 years” (July 27) : A story on bizarre fraud operation and the institutional blind spots that enabled it. 3. Crime and Justice: “He was 8 when his father was killed. Fifteen years later, in UP’s Shamli, he took revenge” (October 18): A deeply reported crime story tracing cycles of violence, memory and justice in rural Uttar Pradesh. “Who killed 19 girls in Nithari? With the SC rejecting appeals, there are no answers and no closure” (July 31): A report capturing the long legal and emotional aftermath of one of India’s most chilling unsolved criminal cases. 4. Policy Impact “At Manthan, over US tariffs, Delhi-NCR’s apparel industry brainstorms solutions” (September 8) and “Trump’s 50% tariff begins to bite: Agra’s leather belt feels the impact” (August 13) : Reports documenting how global trade decisions ripple through local industries, workers and exporters. Signature Style Saman is recognized for her grassroots storytelling. Her articles often focus on the "people behind the policy". She is particularly skilled at taking mundane administrative processes and turning them into compelling human narratives. X (Twitter): @SamanHusain9 ... Read More

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