NGT tells Gurgaon civic body to form team to check groundwater contamination in villages near Bandhwari landfill

Observing that since Vikas Gupta, Commissioner and Secretary, Urban Local Bodies Department, had stated that he is monitoring the situation and has assured effective and positive results, the tribunal directed him to file a personal affidavit with a clear timeline with steps necessary to be taken for clearing not only the entire legacy waste but also for processing of daily generated solid waste and for protection of damage caused to environment due to seepage of leachate.

On the waste-to-energy plant to be set up at the landfill site, the tribunal, in its January 9 order, further stated that the facts stated in the action-taken report of the MCG are vague, incomplete and inadequate. “However, we find that facts disclosed above are only prospective promises and do not disclose any concrete step and progress at the ground level. We also find that necessary details in respect of certain aspects have also not been given in as much as when legacy waste upto December 2023, is about 20 lacs Metric Tonne why for processing, 5 agencies have been given work for only 13,000 TPD,” its order said.

“Learned Counsel appearing for applicant stated that no action at ground level has been taken and the fact is that condition at Bandhwari and nearby villages is precarious and deteriorating day by day in much as huge quantity of waste has been dumped, here and there, from where leachate is also contaminating groundwater, which is ultimately affecting the health of the villagers and a large number of villagers are suffering from various diseases on account of use of contaminated groundwater,” the order said.

The NGT also mentioned that waste segregation was not being carried out at the Bandhwari landfill site, attributing the fire on January 4 to the lack of segregation and release of toxic gases.