The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered an investigation into allegations of biomedical waste dumping in the Kaliyasot river in Madhya Pradesh. The order came during a hearing on October 15, 2025, in response to a petition filed by Gaurav Saxena against H.K. Kalchuri Education Trust, which runs LNCT Medical College and J.K. Hospital in Bhopal.
As per the report, the institutions have been accused of releasing non-degradable biomedical waste into the Kaliyasot river and violating environmental clearance conditions by constructing buildings within the designated green belt area along the river.
The NGT’s Central Zone Bench, consisting of Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and Expert Member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, observed that the alleged violations fall under several environmental laws, including the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
The tribunal said the actions of the respondents could disturb the river’s natural flow, block its channels, and endanger the rights of citizens dependent on it for water. The Kaliyasot is a key tributary of the Betwa river, which later joins the Ganga river basin. Any pollution or obstruction in its course can have a cascading effect on downstream ecosystems.
The NGT formed a three-member committee to look into the matter. It includes representatives from the Bhopal District Collector’s office, the Directorate of Medical Education, and the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board. The committee has been asked to visit the site and submit a factual and action-taken report within six weeks. The State Pollution Control Board will act as the nodal agency for coordination.
The tribunal has directed the respondents to file their replies within six weeks. The case has been listed for the next hearing on December 15, 2025.
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