Hours before Chandigarh administrator’s visit, Dadumajra gets a quick makeover

Residents want the administrator, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, to pay more such visits 'so that officials would address their concerns promptly'.

Over 50,000 residents of Dadumajra have been living just across a huge dumping ground that they say poses a risk to their well-being, with many suffering from skin- and lung- related ailments. (File)

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Residents of Dadumajra were in for a surprise when they woke up on Monday morning: the leachate flowing from a dumping ground that they had been complaining about for a fortnight had been cleared.

They soon got to know that officials had cleared the dirty water in time for a visit by Union Territory administrator and Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit to an area near the dumping ground.

They found workers of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation sweeping the area and clearing the leachate that had kept flowing onto the streets like rivers since a part of the boundary wall near the dumping ground collapsed in heavy rain on July 9.

Dyal Krishan, a local resident, told The Indian Express, “When we asked the staff why this cleaning was going on, they said the administrator was coming. We were surprised because we had been literally trying hard, requesting at various levels, to get the leachate cleared. And something that couldn’t happen in the last fifteen days was done in a few minutes this morning.”

Krishan added that the residents were even asked to remain indoors.

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However, the administrator didn’t visit that part of Dadumajra where the leachate had flowed to.

When contacted, Mayor Anup Gupta said, “As the governor had said that he would personally review the situation, he just went to see the progress of legacy mining and the plant that will come up. It was just a routine visit.”

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Residents now want the administrator “to pay frequent routine visits” so that officials would respond to their concerns promptly. “We really wish the administrator came here frequently. At least, our area would remain clean,” Krishan said.

Over 50,000 residents of Dadumajra have been living just across a huge dumping ground that they say poses a risk to their well-being, with many suffering from skin- and lung- related ailments.

The corporation has said that it will engage a company to process the waste being dumped in the landfill site.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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