National Green Tribunal pulls up Dimapur Municipal Council again over non-compliance on Sunrise Colony dumpsite

DIMAPUR — The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata, has once again pulled up the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) for failing to comply with its previous orders concerning the environmental and public health issues arising from the Sunrise Colony dumping site at Burma Camp, Dimapur.

During the latest hearing on July 11, the tribunal noted that despite having issued notices as early as April 8 this year, the DMC has neither filed an affidavit of compliance nor appeared before the tribunal.

“We regret to state that notice in the case was issued on 08.04.2025, but the Municipal Commissioner, Dimapur Municipal Council, has not appeared today, nor has he filed his affidavit of compliance,” read the NGT order.

As a result, the tribunal has now issued notice to the chief secretary of Nagaland, directing him to file an affidavit within four weeks, bringing on record the committee report in terms of the tribunal’s directions issued on February 3, 2023. The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 25, 2025.

Also read: National Green Tribunal raps Dimapur Municipal Council over waste mismanagement

“We give one more opportunity to the Municipal Commissioner, Dimapur Municipal Council, to comply with the order; otherwise he shall be present in person (in virtual mode) on the next date of listing,” the order stated.

The tribunal's recent observations come in light of DMC’s alleged failure to comply with a detailed and time-bound action plan outlined in the NGT’s 2023 judgement. That order had directed the municipality to undertake comprehensive measures to overhaul Dimapur’s solid waste management system, including the bio-mining and bio-remediation of the existing dumpsite, infrastructure upgrades, and environmental safeguards to prevent further pollution of the Dhansiri River and surrounding areas.

What the NGT ordered in 2023

As per the February 3, 2023 order, the DMC was instructed to complete all bio-mining and bio-remediation activities at the dumpsite by May 31, 2024, and submit a compliance affidavit by July 1, 2024.

Key directives included construction of a weighbridge, waste processing slabs, proper drainage systems, and an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) alongside a higher-capacity Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP). The tribunal also instructed the Chief Secretary to expedite budget sanctioning.

Additionally, the site was to be fully fenced, particularly the side facing the Dhansiri River, with a green belt and buffer zone established by September 30, 2023, and CCTV installations completed by May 31, 2023. The state government was further directed to identify and acquire land for a new dumpsite within six months and complete relocation by January 31, 2024.

To monitor compliance, the chief secretary was tasked with constituting a high-level committee comprising officials from Urban Development, Municipal Affairs, Pollution Control Board, and DMC. The committee was mandated to conduct quarterly reviews and file a comprehensive compliance affidavit.

Continued non-compliance

In its April 8 notice, the Tribunal had already expressed concern over the lack of action and ordered the DMC to respond within four weeks. However, at the July 11 hearing, the NGT noted that there has been no appearance or compliance from the municipal authorities till date, prompting the latest directives to the chief secretary and a stern warning to the municipal commissioner.

The NGT also directed the counsel representing the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NSPCB) to inform both the chief secretary and the municipal commissioner about the pendency of the matter and the orders passed within 48 hours.

The case will be heard again on August 25.