MCG Denies Toxic Leachate Flow into Agricultural Fields Amid NGT's Waste Concerns
The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has firmly rejected allegations that toxic leachate from the Bandhwari landfill is flowing into nearby agricultural fields. This denial comes even as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has acknowledged that over 17 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of legacy waste remains unprocessed at the site, raising significant environmental and health concerns.
Status Report to NGT: No Immediate Threat to Farms or Residences
In a detailed status report submitted to the NGT, the civic body asserted that there are no residential areas or agricultural fields in the immediate vicinity of the landfill. According to MCG, forest land, villages, and farmlands are located at a considerable distance from the site, minimizing direct risk. The report explicitly stated that no leachate overflow was detected in agricultural fields during inspections.
However, the report did note an incident during heavy rains in 2025, where some runoff water travelled through natural cracks towards a farmhouse in Bandhwari village. MCG clarified that this accumulated water was promptly pumped out using tankers, preventing any lasting contamination.
Waste Processing Challenges and Tender Failures
A major hurdle highlighted in the report is the lack of takers for the fresh waste processing tender at Bandhwari. The tender process has faced repeated failures:
- The first tender was invited on December 15, 2025, but received no bids.
- A second attempt on January 7 this year also yielded no responses.
- The tender was floated for a third time on January 30, yet again without any bids.
In response, MCG has sent a revised proposal to the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) department on March 10, seeking reconsideration and revision of the approved rates and estimates. This move aims to make the tender more attractive to eligible agencies and kickstart waste processing efforts.
Current Waste Statistics and Processing Goals
MCG provided updated data on waste management at Bandhwari:
- Since January 2023, 53.5 lakh MT of waste has been received at the landfill.
- Out of this, 36.28 lakh MT has been processed through biomining and bioremediation techniques.
- Despite these efforts, 17.27 lakh MT of legacy waste remains unprocessed at the site.
The civic body informed the tribunal that waste processing activities resumed in the first week of March. MCG has set a target to process 15 lakh MT of legacy waste by January 2027, indicating a phased approach to tackling the massive backlog.
Proposed Measures to Prevent Leachate Seepage
To address long-term environmental risks, MCG has hired a consultant to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR). Key provisions include:
- Designing a leachate treatment plant with a capacity of 300 kilolitres per day (KLD).
- Construction of an RCC boundary wall along the landfill forest area to prevent seepage of leachate and sedimentation.
These measures are specifically aimed at preventing leachate run-off into the forest area. The DPR, with an estimated cost of Rs 24.8 crore, was submitted to the Department of Urban Local Bodies (DULB) on December 11, 2025.
Additional Actions and Environmental Compensation
In a bid to reduce the burden on Bandhwari, MCG wrote to the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) commissioner on March 9, requesting a halt to the dumping of waste from Faridabad at the landfill site.
Furthermore, MCG addressed the environmental compensation imposed by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). HSPCB levied Rs 6.3 crore as environmental compensation on MCG at a rate of Rs 10 lakh per month from April 2020. The civic body confirmed that compensation up to September 2025 has been paid, with the remaining amount for the last quarter (October to December 2025) scheduled for payment by March 20, 2026.
The ongoing situation at Bandhwari landfill underscores the complex challenges of urban waste management in rapidly developing regions like Gurgaon. While MCG denies immediate threats, the sheer volume of unprocessed waste and repeated tender failures highlight the urgent need for effective and sustainable solutions.
