On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India directed all chief secretaries to develop a dedicated mechanism for enforcing the Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM) 2026 at tourist and pilgrim sites across the country. Justices Pankaj Mithal and SVN Bhatti highlighted the need for cleanliness at these locations to improve India's international image and preserve the environment for future generations. The court's order mandates the identification of tourist-centric beaches and sites, with district collectors tasked to form a 'special cell' comprising relevant officials to supervise compliance. Collectors are required to inspect dumping sites virtually and submit bi-weekly reports to state ministries. Additionally, state governments are urged to provide timely grants to urban and rural bodies that demonstrate effective compliance while penalizing those that do not. The court also called on the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to delegate enforcement powers to district collectors for one year. This ruling follows an appeal from the Bhopal Municipal Corporation regarding non-compliance with earlier waste management regulations. The court will reconvene on May 25 to further address the matter.