National Green Tribunal
News Item Titled "Jabalpur Kathaunda ... vs 7.2024 on 18 May, 2026
Item No. 38 Court No. 1
BEFORE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI
Original Application No. 819/2024
News item titled "Jabalpur Kathaunda plaint mein kachara jalne ke baad
dur dur tak fail rahe dhool ke kan" appearing in Bhaskarhindi.com dated
01.07.2024
Date of hearing: 18.05.2026
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON
HON'BLE DR. AFROZ AHMAD, EXPERT MEMBER
Respondents: Ms. Ankita Sharma & Ms. Ishika Neogi, Advs. with Mr. Devendra Chauhan
(Through VC), Additional Commissioner & Mr. Kamlesh Shrivastava
(Through VC), Superintending Engineer, Jabalpur Municipal Corporation
Mr. Mridul Shukla, Adv. for MP SPCB (Through VC)
Ms. Rukhmini Bobde & Mr. Jatin Dhamija, Advs. for the State of Madhya
Pradesh
ORDER
1. The Tribunal in this Original Application is examining the status of waste to energy plant at Kathonda Jabalpur.
2. The Tribunal in the previous order dated 25.09.2025 had considered the report of the JMC and had made the following observations:
"9. Considering the unsatisfactory situation noted above, we direct JMC and State PCB to submit fresh report at least one week before the next date of hearing on following issues:-
i. JMC to submit report on Commissioning and operation of WTE plant in accordance with SWM rules.
ii. PCB to file copy of CTO and Authorisation granted to the operator of WTE plant.
iii. JMC to disclose modus operandi to manage waste which will remain unprocessed during closure period of the plant. iv. JMC to disclose time-bound plan to process biodegradable waste (estimated to be 300 TPD) and segregation of incinerable high calorific feed and separate management of other residues/ rejects not useful to WTE plant.
v. The JMC will disclose proper quantities of legacy waste lying at Ranital and Kathonda sites and plan for its remediation.1
vi. JMC will Maintain buffer around the sites preventing degradation of environment and human health."
3. In compliance of the above order the JMC has filed the report dated 26.04.2026 disclosing the following:
"Para 9 (i): JMC to submit report on Commissioning and operation of WTE plant in accordance with SWM rules.
Response: Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) has Waste to Energy Plant located at Kathonda Jabalpur. This plant was commissioned in the year 2016 before the imposition of SWM rules 2016. Plant is operated and maintained by Jabalpur MSW Private Limited (previously under Essel Group, presently under Kundan Group, post NCLT order). Notably, this plant is based on mass incineration technology capable of processing mixed i.e. dry and wet waste together. Notably WTE plant was under overhaul between October 2025 and January 2026. Above WTE plant at Kathonda has been recommissioned from January 2026 post necessary over hauling of the entire plant, all necessary documents with respect to the overhauling process is marked and annexed herewith as Annexure A, Page No. 8 Para 9 (ii): PCB to file copy of CTO and Authorisation granted to the operator of WTE plant.
Response: Copy of CTO and authorization granted to the operator of WTE plant is marked and annexed herewith as Annexure B from Page No. 9 to 10.
Para (iii): JMC to disclose modus operandi to manage waste which will remain unprocessed during closure period of the plant Response: During the mentioned closure period of the plant for carrying out over hauling of the various plant components, JMC collected and transported MSW to site near WTE plant and the entire quantity of waste i.e. 38138 tons accumulated during this period has been processed by the WTE plant post recommissioning the same is marked and annexed herewith as Annexure C from Page No. to 11 to 12.
Para (iv): JMC to disclose time-bound plan to process biodegradable waste (estimated to be 300 TPD) and segregation of incinerable high calorific feed and separate management of other residues/ rejects not useful to WTE plant.
Response: JMC has operational vehicle fleet of 403 waste collection vehicles (tippers) comprising of separate compartments for collecting biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste from the city the same is marked and annexed herewith as Annexure D1 from Page No. 13 to 21. Along with this JMC has been carrying out IEC activities to ensure source segregation at the household level the same is marked and annexed herewith as Annexure D2 from Page No. 22 to 45. For processing of the collected bio degradable waste, Jabalpur city has proposed 100 TPD bio-CNG plant under CITIIS 2.0 which will be 2 established during the execution phase of the CITIIS 2.0 project the same is marked and annexed herewith as Annexure D3 from Page No. 46 to 47.
As per the agreement, JMC is to provide 450 TPD (+-10%) mixed MSW to plant operator Jabalpur MSW private limited for the agreement period of 20 years (ending in the year 2036). Hence transition from mixed waste processing to separate dry waste processing and wet waste processing will be implemented gradually the same is marked and annexed herewith as Annexure D4 from Page No. 48 to 49. During the over hauling period, plant operator Jabalpur MSW private limited has installed and commissioned pre-processing unit comprising of 2 trommels, 2 ballistic separator along with conveyor system. Above installed system insures incinerable high calorific feed directly into the waste pit the same is marked and annexed herewith as Annexure D5 from Page No. 50 to 53.
Regarding management of other residues/ rejects not useful to WTE plant, the quantity generated during the period January 2026 to March 2026 the same is marked and annexed herewith as Annexure D6, Page No. 54. Undertaking from PPP private partner Jabalpur MSW Private Limited for the utilization of the same is hereby attached.
Para (v): The JMC will disclose proper quantities of legacy waste lying at Ranital and Kathonda sites and plan for its remediation. Response: JMC has remediated both legacy waste sites, Ranital legacy waste was remediated in 2 phases i.e. 1st phase-1.86 lakh tons and 2nd phase- 1.62 lakh tons.
Kathonda legacy waste site (3 lakh tons) has been remediated by waste to energy plant operator Jabalpur MSW private limited (Kundan Group). However, processing of RDF recovered post remediation is under progress, in order to achieve high incinerable waste for the WTE plant, this RDF is being used along with daily collected fresh waste. Necessary documents are marked and annexed herewith as Annexure E from Page No. 55 to 59.
Para (vi): JMC will Maintain buffer around the sites preventing degradation of environment and human health.
Response: JMC has maintained the necessary demarcated buffer zone around the site and has also planned for plantation at the above remediated site at kathonda. Also JMC is developing a park within the buffer zone the same is marked and annexed herewith as Annexure F, Page No. 60."
4. In the above report certain steps are disclosed which the JMC is in the process of taking, therefore, the JMC is directed to file the progress report at least one week before the next date of hearing. 3
5. The Municipal Commissioner, JMC has submitted that he will ascertain if any waste was received from Rudarpur for treatment in the WTE plant in Kathonda.
6. List on 13.07.2026.
Prakash Shrivastava, CP Dr. Afroz Ahmad, EM May 18, 2026 Original Application No. 819/2024 P 4