Ghazipur landfill’s woes continue: NGT report flags slew of safety hazards, dumpsite now exceeding 60-m

The Tribunal was hearing a suo motu case registered based on a news report on a fire that erupted at the dumpsite last year.

According to the report, the landfill’s height has increased from 40 metres to and is now exceeding 60 metres. In 2017, as per government records, the landfill was 50 metres high.

The site has also exceeded its designated capacity by 100 lakh metric tonnes (MT), as per MCD officials.

What the inspection carried out on March 26 revealed: 

– It said that due to partial tapping of a leachate tank at the site, a leachate drain was found discharging into drain no. 1 which in turn discharges into the Yamuna River.

Leachate is formed when rainwater filters through waste in a dumpsite. The liquid comes in contact with the accumulated waste and hazardous chemicals are drawn out, posing high risks of contamination in the surrounding areas.

“A pipe can be noticed protruding from the leachate tank. The livestock mandi drain is seen to exit towards Drain No. 1,” read the report. It added, “… it is pertinent to note that the leachate drain was partially tapped.”

It further said, “The landfill is surrounded by critical infrastructure, including government-regulated markets… Adding to its environmental concerns, the site is located within a densely populated area, with the Hindon River Canal and Drain No.1 running directly behind it,” said the report. It added, “This proximity to water bodies increases the risk of leachate contamination…”

– Trommels were found near the entry of the landfill site, as per the report. “This is the same area claimed to have been remediated and reclaimed”.

– Regarding the boundary walls, it flagged that two trommels were found operating on the Hindon canal side of the site where no boundary wall was present. “At two locations, the boundary wall was missing—one near Hindon Canal/Drain No.1 and the other near the MCD slaughterhouse. This poses a significant risk as a potential landfill slide could endanger people and vehicles. Additionally, the lack of a boundary allows unauthorised access, raising security concerns and the possibility of miscreants igniting a fire,” it said.

On September 1, 2017, garbage from the landfill slid 110 metres, including onto the road and the Hindon Canal below, killing two people.

– There were also vertical methane vents, which do not collect but rather let out toxic gas directly into the atmosphere.

– The WTE plant was not running at full capacity of 1,300 TPD; instead, it was operating on around 800-850 TPD.

MCD officials informed the Court Commissioner that with regard to the reclaimed site, “out of 5 acres, a significant quantity of legacy waste has been removed…”

The report includes several recommendations with specific timelines; these include strengthening the perimeter with boundary walls and installing security checkpoints to prevent unauthorised dumping within two months.

It also said, “Implement a robust leachate collection, treatment, and recycling system to ensure zero contamination of surrounding land and water bodies.”

The report recommended “methane capture to establish efficient methane gas extraction”, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, within seven months.

On land reclamation, it said the implementation of bio-remediation techniques — bio-mining and bio-capping — to reclaim land from old landfill sites has been sought to be done within six months.

The most immediate task recommended in the report, to be done in a month, is the safe utilisation of ash residue through innovative applications such as using it in road construction and brick production after testing for heavy metals and toxic elements.

The previous AAP Delhi government had promised to clear Delhi of its three garbage mountains. After the BJP came to power in February, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta asserted last month that the reduction in height of the three landfill sites would be ensured in a year.

As per the NGT report, the current estimated legacy and fresh waste at Ghazipur is approximately 85 lakh MT.

The matter is next listed on July 10.