National Green Tribunal issues environmental orders in Jharkhand and Odisha

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued orders addressing two separate environmental concerns in India.

In Jharkhand, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) reported that all seven sewage treatment plants (STPs) associated with the Harmu River rejuvenation project are currently non-functional. The RMC has requested the Jharkhand Urban Infrastructure Development Company Limited (JUIDCO) to repair the facilities. The river has faced decades of pollution from solid waste, plastic, and untreated domestic sewage due to encroachment and illegal inlets. The NGT has scheduled a follow-up hearing for November 4, 2026.

In Odisha, the NGT's East Zone bench ordered an immediate halt to the dumping of chromium-bearing waste at an abandoned quarry located on the premises of Dharmashala Mahavidyalaya in Jajpur district. The order follows allegations that a private chrome ore beneficiation company was illegally disposing of hazardous waste. The Tribunal noted that while the company claimed compliance with existing permits, the Odisha State Pollution Control Board had not issued specific authorization for using the quarry for this category of waste. The bench invoked the precautionary principle to stop further dumping until further orders are issued.