Haryana Pollution Control Board Initiates Comprehensive Waste Management Audit in Gurgaon and Faridabad
The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has launched a significant one-month inspection and audit of daily municipal solid waste management systems in Gurgaon and Faridabad. This regulatory exercise represents the first comprehensive assessment of fresh municipal waste handling in these two rapidly growing cities, marking a crucial step toward addressing long-standing environmental concerns.
Ground-Level Inspection Teams Deployed for Detailed Assessment
HSPCB is overseeing the audit process and providing essential support for field inspections across the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) and Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF). Two specialized consultants have joined the Gurgaon regional office to conduct on-ground checks and will submit their detailed findings directly to HSPCB through the Gurgaon north regional office.
Regional officer (Gurgaon) Akansha Tanwar emphasized the scope of the audit, stating: "Apart from examining fresh waste management practices, we are thoroughly investigating whether the claims regarding legacy waste at Bandhwari are accurate and verifiable."
Comprehensive Evaluation of Waste Management Practices
Officials have confirmed that the current audit will assess multiple critical aspects of waste management infrastructure and practices. The evaluation includes:
- Segregation effectiveness at source points
- Collection efficiency and coverage
- Transportation systems and logistics
- Processing capacity and utilization
- Landfill disposal practices and compliance
- Adherence to Solid Waste Management Rules
HSPCB has directed its Gurgaon pollution officer to provide complete logistical support to the audit team and depute technical staff to assist the consultants throughout the process. Additionally, commissioners of both Gurgaon and Faridabad municipal corporations have been formally requested to furnish all necessary documents and data required during the audit.
Mounting Pressure on Bandhwari Landfill Site
The audit comes amid escalating concerns about the Bandhwari landfill, which currently contains approximately 15.8 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste and an additional 8.7 lakh metric tonnes of fresh waste. This staggering volume far exceeds the site's officially sanctioned processing capacity, creating significant environmental risks.
Civic data previously accessed reveals that waste has continued accumulating for months due to persistent delays in remediation efforts. The landfill, originally spanning 28.9 acres and reaching heights of 38 meters, lacks proper waste treatment facilities, exacerbating the environmental challenges.
Regulatory Directives Driving the Audit Process
This comprehensive exercise is being conducted in compliance with a September 17, 2024 directive from the Union Environment Ministry, which mandated state pollution control boards to initiate regular assessments of municipal solid waste handling systems. The inspection also follows directions linked to the long-running MC Mehta case concerning urban waste management.
The audit represents a response to repeated regulatory deadlines aimed at improving segregation, processing, and disposal practices in both cities, which have shown continued dependence on the Bandhwari facility despite its limitations.
Recent Developments and Environmental Concerns
In recent developments, MCG approved awarding work to two private agencies—MRG Green Energy Private Limited and Daya Charan and Company—to process 14 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste, divided equally between them. However, this clearance followed prolonged inaction at the site, during which garbage accumulated to alarming levels.
In a status report submitted to the National Green Tribunal on December 15, 2025, the MCG commissioner indicated that legacy waste processing is expected to commence by March 10, 2026, with completion targeted for March 2027.
Environmental concerns have been mounting, particularly regarding leachate management. In April 2024, the tribunal highlighted the risk of toxic leachate spreading during monsoon seasons and directed MCG to construct an HDPE-lined garland drain. However, during a joint inspection in September 2025, officials discovered no such drain had been implemented. Instead, leachate was observed overflowing into a plantation area, raising serious environmental and health concerns.
This audit represents a critical intervention by regulatory authorities to address systemic waste management challenges in two of Haryana's most populous urban centers, with potential implications for environmental policy and urban planning across the region.
