IGI Airport waste illegally dumped near flight path creates safety risk, Delhi govt sounds alarm

Two separate letters were written by the district magistrate (DM) of New Delhi earlier this month, days after a conditional order was issued by the sub-divisional magistrate (Vasant Vihar) to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and the forest department, asking them to prevent this illegal dumping.

In one of his letters sent to the MCD, Najafgarh Zone, on March 10, the DM said the issue of illegal dumping of waste at Rangpuri Pahari has severe consequences, including aircraft accidents, health hazards, and national security threats. “We have received complaints from DIAL [Delhi International Airport Limited] regarding the illegal dumping of waste at Rangpuri Pahari, which falls under the line of sight of aircraft landing,” the DM said in his letter.

Following the conditional order, a joint site inspection was conducted by the DM, New Delhi, along with the deputy conservator of forests, representatives of MCD, Najafgarh Zone, and the DDA on March 8, which revealed mass-scale illegal dumping by trucks. “During inspection, it was also noticed that untreated waste generated out of IGI airport especially connected with the airlines were also found to be, allegedly being dumped at Rangpuri Pahari,” the letter said.

The DM also said that the Aerocity area, which has commercial installations such as hotels and restaurants, was being inspected to review the waste management.

“During inspection, it was noticed that the waste generated in Aerocity area is also not being disposed as per the prescribed norms especially the segregation at source is not being conformed with and there is likelihood that such wastes being unscientifically dumped in unauthorized manner which may equally pose a significant danger to the public health and safety,” the DM said in his communication to the municipal corporation.

A copy of the letter has been sent to the revenue department, CEO of DIAL, and Delhi Police.

“…Needless to mention, there is strong possibility of solid wastes being generated out of commercial operations of hotels, malls, health units in Mahipalpur and surrounding areas as well as of bordering Gurgaon which are unlawfully being dumped in Rangpuri Pahari area. During inspection, the inspection team had detected waste with tags of hotels and commercial establishments being dumped in Rangpuri Pahari area,” the letter said.

The DM said they have learnt that unauthorised vendors were involved in transporting waste and dumping at Rangpuri Pahari or other areas. “As per reports of local agencies, there is a strong likelihood of some illegal immigrants allegedly being involved in the conduct of this entire unlawful activity of waste dumping and subsidiary activities,” the DM said.