As toxic air continues to choke the National Capital Region (NCR), the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has raised a red flag over significant delays in tackling municipal solid waste in Haryana. The commission has expressed serious concerns about the slow pace of establishing waste processing infrastructure and remediating legacy waste dumps in key NCR cities of Haryana, namely Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Sonipat.
Slow Progress and Winter Worries
Following a detailed review of solid waste management across NCR states, the CAQM found that Haryana's efforts are lagging behind set targets. The state's progress in clearing old waste piles and expanding its capacity to process fresh waste is unsatisfactory. This situation is turning critical with the onset of winter, a season notorious for worsening air quality. The commission has called for immediate corrective steps to address the rampant issue of open waste burning, a major contributor to hazardous air pollution.
The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has been given a strict directive to finalise the tendering process for remediating approximately 14 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste by January 20, 2026. Furthermore, the actual process of biomining must begin by March 31, 2026. This push aims to speed up the removal of ageing waste dumps, which are prone to catching fire and releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
Gurgaon's Bandhwari Landfill: A Persistent Challenge
The focus is sharply on Gurgaon's massive Bandhwari landfill site. MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya, who is also tasked with implementing CAQM's orders on behalf of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), stated that bioremediation work at Bandhwari is slated to begin by the end of February. He assured sincere efforts to implement the city's air pollution action plan, which includes stringent dust control and construction waste management measures.
However, the ground reality reveals a history of delays and procedural hurdles. In MCG's own pollution control action plan, it assessed that around 16 lakh metric tonnes of both fresh and legacy waste were present at Bandhwari as of December 31. The civic body aims to complete legacy waste processing by March 28, but waste processing at the site has been stalled since July.
In a significant revision, MCG informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in August that it now pledges to clear the legacy waste by February 2028—over two years past the original deadline. The corporation indicated that waste processing is expected to start only in January 2026.
Third Time Lucky for Tenders?
In a bid to break the deadlock, MCG issued a new tender for waste processing at Bandhwari on November 8. This marks the third attempt in recent months to find an agency capable of handling the massive waste backlog. Officials have reported receiving five bids for this latest tender.
The journey to this point has been rocky. MCG first invited bids for bioremediation in September to process 15 lakh metric tonnes of waste, but only one agency showed interest. The project was then split into two separate tenders of 7.5 lakh metric tonnes each in October. Even this restructuring failed to attract more bidders. With limited options, MCG has now reissued the tender for the third time, hoping to finally onboard agencies with the capability for large-scale waste processing.
The CAQM has also issued broader instructions to all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Haryana's NCR region. They must enforce on-site wet waste processing by bulk waste generators, accelerate the creation of 100% zero-waste colonies, and improve systems for waste segregation and door-to-door collection within strict timelines.
The commission emphasised that effective municipal solid waste management is non-negotiable for improving the NCR's air quality. It has urged Haryana's urban bodies to move swiftly from planning to execution to avoid potential enforcement actions and prevent further environmental damage.
