Haryana Government Greenlights ₹126 Crore Initiative to Revive Bandhwari Landfill Operations
In a significant development for urban waste management in the National Capital Region, the Haryana government has approved a substantial ₹126 crore project to restart legacy waste processing at the Bandhwari landfill site. This decision comes after a six-month operational halt at the facility, which serves as the primary dumping ground for both Gurgaon and Faridabad's daily waste.
Contract Awards and Implementation Timeline
The state government has formally cleared the award of contracts to two private agencies who will share the responsibility of processing 14 lakh metric tonnes of accumulated legacy waste. MKG Green Energy Private Limited and Daya Charan and Company have been selected for this crucial environmental remediation project, with each firm assigned to handle 7 lakh metric tonnes of waste.
Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) officials have confirmed receiving the necessary approvals and indicated that work orders will be issued by January 29. "We received the approval and now we will issue the work order by Thursday so that the agencies can begin their work," stated an MCG official familiar with the project's progress.
Project Specifications and Oversight Mechanisms
The proposal received approval from a high-power works committee, which granted revised administrative sanction with additional conditions attached to ensure proper execution. Key aspects of the project include:
- A fixed processing rate of ₹900 per metric tonne for the approved 14 lakh metric tonnes
- Contractor responsibility to process up to 16.8 lakh metric tonnes (20% above approved quantity) if waste volume exceeds initial estimates
- Mandatory monthly progress reviews to monitor implementation
- Additional bank guarantee equal to 5% of the project cost
- Detailed agreements covering manpower and machinery deployment requirements
Current Waste Accumulation and Historical Context
Data accessed by media sources reveals the alarming scale of waste accumulation at Bandhwari. The landfill currently contains approximately 15.9 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste alongside 8.8 lakh metric tonnes of fresh waste, collectively exceeding the newly sanctioned processing capacity.
Waste processing operations at Bandhwari originally ceased in July when MCG barred the two agencies then working at the site due to unsatisfactory progress. Daya Charan and Company has previous experience at Bandhwari, having been awarded a contract in 2024 to process 3 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste. MKG Green, a Uttar Pradesh-based firm, will be operating at the site for the first time.
Regulatory Framework and Future Projections
In a status report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on December 15, 2025, MCG commissioner outlined the projected timeline for the renewed waste processing initiative. According to the report, legacy waste processing is expected to commence by March 10, 2026, with completion targeted for March 2027.
For fresh waste management, the civic body submitted a ₹172 crore proposal to the Haryana urban local bodies department in May 2025, seeking funding for a 10-year processing period. The department approved a reduced allocation of ₹27 crore covering a 3-year timeframe instead.
The MCG report further indicates that fresh waste processing at the landfill site will begin after clearing approximately 5 acres of land by the first week of May 2026. This is particularly significant given that Gurgaon generates between 1,200 to 1,500 metric tonnes of waste daily, all of which is transported to the Bandhwari facility.
Environmental Concerns and Expert Perspectives
Environmental activists have expressed concerns regarding persistent delays and enforcement challenges at Bandhwari. "With untreated rubbish continuing to pile up even as contracts are finalised, the latest approval may be too little, too late unless execution finally matches intent," cautioned Vaishali Rana, an environmental activist monitoring the situation.
The extended period of operational suspension has resulted in continuous waste accumulation, creating additional environmental pressures. The newly approved project represents a critical attempt to address the mounting waste management crisis affecting the Gurgaon-Faridabad region, though its ultimate success will depend on timely implementation and sustained oversight.
