The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday launched a sharp accusation against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), alleging systematic manipulation of data related to the amount of garbage being dumped at the city's overflowing landfills.
Allegations of Inflated Waste Figures
Leader of the opposition in the MCD, Ankush Narang, claimed that the civic body is artificially inflating the recorded weight of waste dumped daily. He alleged that instead of transporting segregated wet and dry waste as per rules, concessionaires hired for door-to-door collection are taking construction and demolition debris to the landfill sites.
Narang explained the motive behind this alleged practice, stating that one truck loaded with heavy construction debris weighs nearly the same as ten dumpers carrying regular household garbage. This significant weight difference allows companies to show inflated numbers on paper, potentially enabling them to claim more money from the corporation, he contended.
MCD's Firm Rejection and Counterattack
Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh categorically denied all allegations, calling them baseless and devoid of facts. He defended the current administration's record, asserting that strict checking is in place to ensure only legitimate garbage reaches the landfill sites.
In a counterattack, Mayor Singh said, "During its tenure, AAP did not take any concrete steps towards eliminating Delhi's landfills. Now that the current administration is delivering tangible results, they are making false allegations." He pointed to the reducing size of the landfills as proof of genuine efforts.
Scientific Remediation Claims and New Tenders
The Mayor provided specific figures to substantiate the MCD's work. He claimed that at the three major landfills—Bhalswa, Okhla, and Ghazipur—more than 3.9 million metric tonnes of legacy waste has been scientifically processed. Furthermore, he stated that biomining operations have now reached a capacity of 30,000 tonnes per day.
Looking ahead, Singh announced that tenders have been invited for fresh waste disposal with a total combined capacity of 5,100 tonnes per day (TPD), indicating plans to handle new waste more efficiently.
Further Accusations and the Road Ahead
Narang also raised another serious violation, alleging that cow dung, which is supposed to be sent to biogas plants for processing, is being lifted at night and illegally dumped at the landfills. He referred to videos purportedly showing such violations near the Ghazipur landfill site.
The opposition leader underscored the core issue, claiming that while debris is used to inflate landfill data, the actual mixed waste on Delhi's streets remains unattended, causing civic distress. This political blame game highlights the ongoing struggle and complex challenges in managing the waste of India's capital, with both sides presenting starkly different pictures of reality.
