Hadapsar Garbage Plant to Stay: Bombay HC Rejects Plea for Relocation, Orders Strict Pollution Control
Pune, 7th August 2025: The Bombay High Court has turned down a set of public interest litigations (PILs) demanding the relocation of the solid waste processing plant located in Hadapsar Industrial Estate, and instead directed authorities to ensure scientific and rule-based waste management practices at the site.
In a significant judgment delivered on Tuesday, the division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V. Marne instructed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) to strictly comply with Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has been asked to initiate action against any violation of these rules by civic authorities or their contractors.
“The municipal solid waste brought to the Hadapsar unit must not be dumped as mixed waste. Instead, it should undergo proper treatment through composting, recycling, and other eco-friendly processes. Non-biodegradable waste must be directed to approved landfill sites,” the court stated.
Responding to long-standing concerns of local residents over foul smells and health hazards, the court also ordered the use of advanced technology to curb pollution. “Controlling odorous gases and dust emissions from waste processing facilities is essential to protect public health and the environment,” the bench observed.
The verdict brings closure to a decade-old demand from several Hadapsar-area residential groups seeking the removal of the garbage plant. It also clears the path for PMC to advance its plan to decentralise waste processing — aimed at cutting down the cost and volume of waste being sent to Uruli Devachi.
The PILs were filed by the Hadapsar Industrial Association, St Patrick’s Town Cooperative Housing Society, and Sopan Baug residents, citing severe air quality and health issues caused by the operations. The petition named PMC, PCB, MPCB, the Pune district collector, and the Maharashtra government as respondents.
Rejecting the plea to shift the facility, the bench said: “We do not find merit in the petitioners’ request to relocate the waste processing plant. Its operation is in accordance with the SWM Rules and backed by a 2008 order issued by the Urban Development Department. This court disapproves of repeated efforts to shut down or relocate this essential facility.”
The court acknowledged that PMC has already undertaken certain remedial steps, including regular high-pressure water spraying every three hours to reduce odour and dust. It has proposed covering the compost plant and is in the process of installing misting and fogging systems to manage foul smells. The civic body also plans to raise the boundary wall from 12 to 16 feet and install automatic chemical sprinklers for odour control.
The High Court has further directed PMC and PCB to approach the state government if they require additional land for future expansion or more effective operations of the waste processing facility.
The Hadapsar plant, which has served the PCB for nearly 100 years, currently handles around 200 metric tonnes of waste daily from the Cantonment area. PMC, which generates approximately 800 metric tonnes of waste daily, began using the facility in 2000 as part of a decentralised strategy.
