National Green Tribunal
Anil Kumar Verma vs Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board on 9 February, 2026
Item No.4
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
CENTRAL ZONE BENCH, BHOPAL
THROUGH PHYSICAL HEARING (WITH HYBRID OPTION)
Original Application No.37/2026(CZ)
Anil Kumar Verma Applicant(s)
Vs.
Madhya Pradesh Pollution
Control Board & Ors Respondent(s)
Date of Hearing: 09.02.2026
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHEO KUMAR SINGH, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE MR. SUDHIR KUMAR CHATURVEDI, EXPERT MEMBER
For Applicant (s): Mr. Aryan Gupta, Adv.
For Respondent(s) :
ORDER
1. Learned Counsel for the applicant has highlighted the noncompliance of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 amended by the notification issued by the Central Government w.e.f. 01.07.2022 and strongly and vehemently contended the enforcement in the public interest, in the interest of the environment to safeguard the public health.
2. The contention of the learned counsel for the applicant are that plastic waste Plastic products have become an integral part of our daily life as a result of which the polymer is produced at a massive scale worldwide. On an average, production of plastic globally crosses 150 Million tonnes per year. Once plastic is discarded after its utility is over, it is known as plastic waste. It is a fact that plastic waste never degrades, and remain on landscape for several years. Plastic is a material made to last forever, and due to the same chemical composition, plastic cannot biodegrade; it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces. When 1 O.A. No.37/2026(CZ Anil Kumar Verma Vs Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board & Ors.
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buried in a landfill, plastic lies untreated for years. In the process, toxic chemicals from plastics drain out and seep into groundwater, flowing downstream into lakes and rivers. The seeping of plastic also causes soil pollution and have now started resulting in presence of micro plastics in soil. The increased presence of plastic on the ocean surface has resulted in more serious problems.
3. Burning plastic also emits toxic organic pollutants. These include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, toluene, and styrene, as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Many of these compounds are hazardous air pollutants that participate in photochemical reactions, contributing to ground-level ozone formation and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) production. Most plastics are derived from petrochemicals and contain long-chain hydrocarbons along with additives such as plasticizers, flame retardants, stabilisers, and pigments. During combustion-especially incomplete combustion, which is common in open burning or poorly controlled incineration- these materials undergo thermal degradation and oxidation, producing a complex mixture of gaseous and particulate emissions. Particulate matter (PM), especially fine (PM.) and ultrafine particles, is another major emission. These particles can contain adsorbed heavy metals (e.g., lead, cadmium, and antimony) and organic toxins. In the atmosphere, such particles influence cloud condensation nuclei. dynamics, reduce air quality, and contribute to regional haze and radiative forcing.
4. To curb the various issues pertaining to pollution cause by plastic, Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 were notified vide G.S.R. 320(E) on 18.03.2016 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in exercise of powers conferred by Sections 6, 8 and 25 of the 2 O.A. No.37/2026(CZ Anil Kumar Verma Vs Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board & Ors.
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Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 which provides a regulatory framework for management of plastic waste generated in the country.
5. State of Madhya Pradesh imposed total ban on plastic carry bag throughout the territory of Madhya Pradesh vide Notification dated 24.05.2017 bearing no. F S-2-2015-18-5.
6. Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 were amended vide Notification No. G.S.R. 571(E) whereby single use plastic, polystyrene, etc. were banned by the Central Government w.e.f. 01.07.2022.
7. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, hosted a large-scale program on the occasion of World Environment Day 2025 at New Delhi, on 05.06.2025, with the slogan 'One Nation, One Mission:
End Plastic Pollution'. As part of the said campaign, the Central Government further launched the National Plastic Pollution Reduction Campaign (hereinafter referred to as "NPPRC") for a period of 5 months till 31.10.2025. The activities also include focus on reducing use of avoidable single use plastics in government offices especially during Special Campaign 5.0.
8. A substantial issue of environmental has been raised. Issue notice to the respondents. Returnable within four weeks.
9. Applicant is directed to take necessary steps for service to the respondents by both ways and also on available email.
10. Respondents are directed to submit their reply within six weeks through E-filing portal, preferably in the form of searchable PDF/ OCR Support PDF and not in the form of Image PDF.
11. Applicant is directed to supply the required documents and copy of the application to the respondents within a week and after compliance of service, the Applicant has to submit an affidavit that notices and copy of the application have been served upon the respondents. 3 O.A. No.37/2026(CZ Anil Kumar Verma Vs Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board & Ors.
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List it on 27th March, 2026 and tagged it with O.A No. 189/2025.
Sheo Kumar Singh, JM Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, EM 09th February, 2026 Original Application No.37/2026(CZ) K 4 O.A. No.37/2026(CZ Anil Kumar Verma Vs Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board & Ors.
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