Lok Sabha Question No. 1298 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Leak of Toxic Leachate from Bandhwari Landfill
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Deepender Singh Hooda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1298

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025

## Leak of Toxic Leachate from Bandhwari Landfill

## 1298.  SHRI DEEPENDER SINGH HOODA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of toxic leachate from the Bandhwari landfill in Gurugram that has been found seeping into surrounding areas and contaminating groundwater, including studies on its impact on soil, water and public health;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to fix accountability on the agencies responsible for such mismanagement;
- (c) the total loss caused to agriculture, environment and public health due to the said seepage, its assessed monetary value, the compensation already provided to affected persons and the time period within which the remaining compensation will be disbursed; and;
- (d) the steps being taken to ensure immediate containment of leachate, installation of treatment facilities and long-term scientific remediation of the site?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (d): As  per  Solid  Waste  Management  Rules  (SWM),  2016,  local  bodies  are mandated to investigate and analyse all old open dumpsites and existing operational dumpsites for  their  potential  of  bio-mining  and bio-remediation and wherever feasible, take necessary actions  to  bio-mine  or  bio-remediate  the  sites.  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  has  issued guidelines  for  Disposal  of  Legacy  Waste  and  also  issued  directions  under  Section  5  of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to all State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees for enforcement of provisions of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, regarding bio-mining of legacy waste. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, has allocated Rs.10,930.12 crores  under  Solid  Waste  Management  (SWM)  component  of  SBM  (U)  2.0  as  Central Government share for States/UTs for setting up of waste processing facilities for scientific management of municipal solid waste as well as for remediation of legacy waste dumpsites.

As per information provided by Municipal Corporation of Gurugram and Faridabad to CPCB during inspection the waste disposal site at Bandhwari is in operation for last 13 years. The initial waste volume of 44 Lakh Metric Tonnes (MT) was present at Bandhwari  dumpsite with height of 41 meters covering an area of about 30 Acres. Bio-mining of the legacy waste at Bandhwari  dumpsite is underway and through biomining of dumpsite the present height is 19 meters, with a total waste volume of around 14 lakhs MT

The analysis of leachate samples by CPCB has shown that the physico-chemical parameters of leachate collected was in excess of prescribed limits as per Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. As per Municipal Corporation of Gurugram the leachate is collected in High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) lined ponds and transported for treatment at the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority's 120 MLD capacity Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).  The analysis of ground  water  samples  collected  from  13  locations  by  CPCB  in  the  vicinity  of  Bhadwari dumpsite, has shown that physico-chemical parameters are within limits as per Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

CPCB has prepared guidelines for disposal of legacy waste (Old MSW). The guidelines include provisions of bio mining of legacy waste under SWM Rules, 2016, detailed methodology and process of bioremediation and bio-mining. The guidelines have been prepared to ensure that concerned local authorities engaged in the bio mining process of legacy waste shall follow procedures in the guidelines inter alia including the following points: (i) analysis of screened fractions materials i.e. Refused Dry Fuel (RDF), fine earth, prior to its disposal /utilization, (ii) preparation of plans for utilisation /disposal of screened fractions, and (iii) adequate provisions for  leachate  treatment.  Further,  other  aspects  of  process  management,  space  management, leachate, management, fire and safety control measures, use of recovered space etc. have also been included in the guidelines.

CPCB has also issued directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to all SPCBs/PCCs regarding bio-mining of legacy waste on 27.01.2021 and for fire prevention at dumpsites on dated 26.5.2022