As the new year begins, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is racing against time to meet its commitment of flattening two of the capital's three towering landfill sites within the next two years. The civic body has reaffirmed strict deadlines, aiming to clear the Okhla dumpsite by July 2026 and the Bhalswa landfill by December 2026. The final target for the Ghazipur site is set for December 2027.
Accelerating Remediation with a Third Agency
In a significant move to expedite the long-delayed process, MCD has initiated the hiring of a third agency for biomining and flattening work. This will allow operations to run simultaneously at all three landfill sites for the first time. A second agency is already engaged, and officials believe that parallel execution will drastically cut down delays that have plagued the project for years.
An MCD official stated that several hurdles which previously stalled progress have now been addressed. The Supreme Court continues its monitoring of the project, and the central government has released the necessary funds. Furthermore, the standing committee is now functional to grant required approvals swiftly. "Biomining work slowed during the three monsoon months but is now regaining speed," the official added.
A History of Missed Deadlines and Mounting Waste
The road to remediation has been bumpy, with MCD missing landfill cleanup deadlines at least four times in the past. The corporation had earlier cited financial constraints and the absence of a standing committee as major obstacles. These repeated extensions have drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups and residents living near the dumpsites, who endure constant pollution, health hazards, and safety risks.
According to official MCD data, 161.31 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of legacy waste has been processed across the three sites between July 2022 and December 23, 2025. Despite this considerable effort, a massive 133.5 lakh MT of old waste still remains, all of which must be treated by the final deadline of December 2027.
Uneven Progress and Persistent Challenges
The progress is not uniform across the three locations. Bhalswa has shown the most advancement, processing over 23 lakh MT of waste between January and November 2025 under the ongoing Phase II. Okhla managed 17.7 lakh MT in the same period, while Ghazipur lagged significantly at just 10.2 lakh MT.
Ghazipur's slow pace is a persistent concern. During Phase I, the site processed a mere nine lakh MT against a target of 45 lakh MT over 18 months. The mountain of waste at Ghazipur once stood at nearly 65 metres, just eight metres shorter than the Qutub Minar, leading to National Green Tribunal intervention and the start of biomining in 2020.
Complicating the remediation efforts is the continuous influx of fresh waste. About 4,000 MT of new garbage is dumped daily at Ghazipur and Bhalswa. Additionally, silt from drain desilting and ash from waste-to-energy plants are also being deposited at these sites. Due to acute space constraints, MCD has recently been forced to resume dumping at the Okhla landfill as well.
The Road Ahead and Future Plans
Phase II of biomining is currently active, with targets to process 30 lakh MT each at Bhalswa and Ghazipur (extendable by 15 lakh MT each) and 20 lakh MT at Okhla (extendable by 10 lakh MT) within an 18-month window. However, even after achieving these Phase II goals, a daunting 69.5 lakh MT of legacy waste will persist, coupled with an estimated 39.3 lakh MT of fresh waste expected until the sites are fully flattened.
To tackle this remaining mountain, MCD floated a tender for Phase III on September 10, aimed at the complete liquidation of the dumpsites, though financial bids are yet to be opened. Looking to the future, MCD has proposed building two new waste-processing facilities to prevent a return to dumping at Bhalswa—one on the reclaimed landfill land itself and another at Singhola's silt dumping ground.
The coming years will be a critical test for Delhi's waste management resolve, as the city works to erase these toxic landmarks from its skyline and environment.
