MCG plans drainage system around Bandhwari to stop leachate spill

Gurugram: The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) is planning to construct a drainage system around the Bandhwari landfill to stop leakage of leachate into the neighbouring waterbodies and the protected Aravallis range, civic body officials said on Friday.

The decision to build the drainage system comes a week after a waterbody got polluted with leachate leak from the landfill that consists of more than 3.6 million tonnes of legacy waste waiting to be processed as per the orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

Officials said water in the pond used by wild animals had turned purple and became harmful for consumption after the leakage.

On Tuesday, the district wildlife department wrote to the MCG after leachate from the landfill contaminated the waterbody.

MCG joint commissioner Naresh Kumar said the order to start the drainage construction around the landfill was issued during a meeting on Tuesday evening. “Additional commissioner Jaideep Kumar headed the meeting and the engineering wing of the MCG has been given the nod to proceed with the construction,” he said.

Officials said it is not the first time that the MCG had come up with a plan to construct a drainage system at the garbage dumping site.

“Earlier in 2018, a major drainage system was constructed but it was only along the road leading to Bandhwari village to stop the leakage of leachates from the landfill. But over a period of time, the drain became dysfunctional due to lack of maintenance,” said a senior MCG official. “The leachates also contaminate underground aquifers over a period of time,” he added.

Earlier, the NGT had slapped a fine of 100 crore on the MCG for failing to properly manage the Bandhwari landfill and processing its legacy waste. The NGT had also formed committees in the past for inspecting leachate leak from the landfill.

Bandhwari is one of the largest landfills in north India and towers above mesquite forests and surrounds the Aravallis.