The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Principal Bench, New Delhi, has directed a fresh inspection of the Wariana dumpsite in Jalandhar following concerns over inaccurate estimates of the quantity of waste lying at the site.The NGT has also taken note of the Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar’s (MC Jalandhar) default in paying environmental compensation.The Tribunal has passed significant directions concerning the Wariana Dumpsite after taking note of serious environmental violations at the perennial dumpsite, which poses a significant environmental threat to Jalandhar.The concerns were highlighted in proceedings initiated by Tejasvi Minhas, a social and environmental activist, through Application No. 97 of 2026.During a hearing held on August 12, 2026, the Tribunal recorded that an inspection by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) had found continued non-compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules.The violations included the absence of waste segregation, recurring landfill fires, lack of leachate treatment, non-functional piezometers, absence of boundary fencing, and illegal dumping of waste along the Kala Sanghian Drain.The Tribunal also took serious note of the financial aspect of the case. It recorded that environmental compensation amounting to Rs 9.30 crore had been imposed on the Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, of which only Rs 90 lakh had been deposited, leaving Rs 8.40 crore outstanding.The NGT observed that the PPCB’s reply did not disclose any serious effort to recover the pending amount and directed the Board to initiate recovery proceedings through the Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar.Another major issue raised by the applicant concerned the quantity of legacy waste at the Wariana Dumpsite. While the Municipal Corporation has claimed that the dumpsite contains 12,70,600 metric tonnes of legacy waste, Minhas’ application disputed the assessment, arguing that the quantity has never been scientifically and independently determined and may exceed the amount stated by the Municipal Corporation.Accepting this concern, the Tribunal has directed the PPCB to conduct a fresh spot inspection and assess the actual quantity of legacy waste lying at the site.The Tribunal further observed that the Municipal Corporation’s affidavit failed to disclose a timeline for clearing the legacy waste and did not explain the daily gap between waste generation and treatment in Jalandhar.Accordingly, the Municipal Corporation has been directed to file a fresh affidavit within four weeks addressing these deficiencies.The matter is now listed before the National Green Tribunal on October 28, 2026, when the Municipal Corporation’s fresh compliance affidavit and the PPCB’s action regarding recovery of the outstanding compensation and the fresh inspection are expected to be placed on record.Activist Tejasvi Minhas said, “This order is an important step towards accountability. The Tribunal has acknowledged the need for an independent assessment of the actual quantity of legacy waste and has questioned both the recovery of environmental compensation and the absence of a concrete remediation timeline. The Wariana Dumpsite is not merely a waste-management issue but a public health and environmental justice issue affecting thousands of residents living around the landfill and along the Kala Sanghian Drain.”