The district administration in Gurgaon has directed a fresh drone-based survey of the legacy waste accumulated at the Bandhwari landfill to determine its exact quantity and current status. This move is intended to pave the way for a more effective disposal strategy.
Review Meeting Directives
During a review meeting at the mini secretariat, Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh instructed officials from the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) and the Haryana State Pollution Control Board to carry out the reassessment at the earliest. Singh emphasized that an accurate estimate of the waste stock through drone mapping would help authorities prepare a realistic action plan for scientific remediation.
Waste Processing Capacity to Increase
The Deputy Commissioner stressed the need to accelerate waste processing and directed officials to increase the existing treatment capacity from around 3,000 metric tonnes per day to nearly double that amount. This move aims to expedite the clearance of years of accumulated waste at the landfill site and address long-standing environmental concerns.
“The actual quantity and current status of the waste should be accurately assessed through drone-based assessment, so that the further action plan can be implemented more effectively,” said Singh.
Separate Disposal for Fresh Waste
Singh also directed officials to work towards identifying a separate location for the disposal of fresh waste, so that the management of old and new waste can be operated separately. The management of waste generated by the Bandhwari Water Group (BWG) was also discussed in the meeting. “BWG should themselves ensure the disposal of their waste according to the prescribed rules, so that the waste management system of the civic body can become more effective,” said Singh.
Current Status of Legacy Waste
Despite two agencies receiving work orders in March to process around 1.4 million metric tonnes of legacy waste, MCG officials reported that only 114,000 metric tonnes have been processed so far. The landfill still contains an estimated 1.8 million metric tonnes of accumulated legacy waste.
Earlier, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar visited Bandhwari and directed MCG to submit a daily report. Sources indicated that Khattar also remarked that it appears 30-35 lakh metric tonnes of waste is lying at Bandhwari, while MCG data states that 18.2 lakh metric tonnes is present at the site.
