NGT Mandates MCG to Formulate Action Plan for Bandhwari Landfill Remediation
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a directive to the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG), compelling the civic body to outline a detailed and comprehensive action plan for the handling and remediation of waste at the Bandhwari landfill. This order comes after the tribunal observed that no such plan exists, despite the dumpsite continuing to receive thousands of tonnes of garbage on a daily basis, exacerbating environmental and public health risks.
Hearing Details and Tribunal's Observations
During a hearing on Wednesday, a bench of the NGT, led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Dr. Afroz Ahmad, took note of submissions from an applicant highlighting the absence of a structured plan. The bench explicitly stated, "MCG in its next report will also indicate the action plan." This directive was issued while the tribunal was addressing a batch of matters related to waste management and recurrent fires at the landfill site.
The tribunal granted MCG's counsel a four-week extension to file a response to a report submitted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on March 9. This report detailed the implementation status of interim measures at the Bandhwari landfill as of February 27, along with guidelines and recommendations for managing the site. The next hearing for this case is scheduled for July 7, allowing time for MCG to prepare its comprehensive strategy.
Background and Environmental Concerns
The Bandhwari landfill, sprawling over approximately 28.9 acres and rising to a height of nearly 38 metres, continues to receive around 2,200 metric tonnes of waste every day. Alarmingly, this occurs without a full-scale waste treatment facility in place, leading to severe environmental degradation. The landfill has long been under scrutiny by the NGT due to issues such as waste mismanagement, leachate leakage, and widespread ecological damage.
In November of last year, the tribunal reprimanded the Haryana government for failing to comply with earlier directives, as toxic leachate persistently spilled into adjacent green areas. The NGT imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the state for delays in filing compliance affidavits and directed the principal secretary (environment) to explain the lapses. Previous inspections have flagged critical concerns, noting that leachate from the site overflows through kutcha drains into plantation areas, forming stagnant pools. There are fears that this contaminated water could spread to agricultural fields during heavy rainfall, posing further risks to food safety and local ecosystems.
Legal Proceedings and Petitioner Involvement
The current proceedings include a suo motu case initiated by the NGT following news reports on repeated fires at the Bandhwari landfill. Additionally, petitioners such as Poonam Yadav and Vivek Kamboj have brought attention to the ongoing environmental hazards, underscoring the urgent need for regulatory action. The CPCB's report, which the tribunal reviewed, outlines specific guidelines and the status of their implementation by MCG, emphasizing the gap between regulatory expectations and on-ground realities.
During the hearing, counsel for the applicant pointed out that no comprehensive plan has been prepared to date for managing and remediating the waste accumulating at Bandhwari. This lack of planning highlights systemic failures in waste management practices and regulatory oversight, necessitating immediate corrective measures to mitigate further environmental damage.
