The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed all chief secretaries to formulate a dedicated mechanism for implementing the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules 2026 at tourist places and pilgrim centers across the country.
Issuing a slew of directions for uniform implementation of the rules that came into effect from April 1, 2026, the bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and S V N Bhatti emphasized the need to keep tourist sites, beaches and pilgrim places, which attract even foreign tourists, in good and extended condition to enhance the country’s image internationally and to ensure the preservation of the planet for future generations.
“The chief secretaries have been directed to identify tourist-oriented beaches, tourist places and pilgrim centres, and devise a special mechanism for implementing the Solid Waste Management Rules 2026 at such locations,” the authority said in its order.
The Supreme Court also directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to issue a notification under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, delegating its powers to issue directions implementing the rules to district collectors across the country for a period of one year.
According to the directives, the collectors will form a “special cell” with all concerned officials, who will help him supervise, manage and implement the Solid Waste Management Rules 2026. The collectors will also inspect landfill sites virtually and submit bi-monthly reports to secretaries of designated ministries in the country.
Meanwhile, state governments have been directed to ensure timely delivery of grants to urban and rural bodies performing better, while penalizing those who do not comply.
“State governments are directed to incentivize good performance by prioritizing grants… Conversely, defaulting LGUs will attract penal consequences for non-compliance with the rules,” its directions said.
The court said that land and nation are what we usually inherit. “It must be a shared commitment to leaving a tolerable planet for future generations behind us. We will not hear their thanks for preserving the planet, but our willingness to sacrifice, work tirelessly for them and dedicate ourselves will leave a mark on our conscience for times to come,” the order said.
Other directions issued by the court also require the Center to resolve issues related to budgetary and manpower constraints, which have been highlighted as major barriers in status reports by states and union territories. The court directed the Union government to explore a roadmap for incorporating knowledge and obligations under the 2026 Rules into the work of elected representatives as part of the representational process in local bodies.
The court asked the Secretaries of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs; Panchayati Raj; and Rural Development to explore inclusion of contributions under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by industries for setting up compressed biogas plants or such waste-to-energy technology.
The bench passed the order in an appeal filed by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation challenging the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that faulted the civic agency for its lack of environmental clearances under the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 that preceded the 2026 Rules.
The court is scheduled to hear the case on May 25.
