A fire broke out at the Bandhwari landfill in Gurgaon, India, on Tuesday morning, prompting a rapid response from firefighters. Around 20 fire tenders were rushed to the scene, and the blaze was brought under control by 4.30pm. However, thick smoke continued to billow from the landfill for several hours after the fire was extinguished, causing a haze in the surrounding areas.
The landfill, which stores approximately 16.4 lakh metric tonnes of garbage, has been the site of several fires in recent months. This has raised concerns about waste management practices and environmental safety. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had earlier come down heavily on the committee formed to clear garbage from the landfill, saying it was “disappointed by the state of affairs”. The tribunal had also told the Haryana government to pay Rs 100 crore as environmental compensation for polluting Bandhwari.
Despite the involvement of private agencies, legacy waste processing at the landfill remains a challenge. The agencies had set a target to process 3.6 lakh MT of legacy waste in January this year, but have not been able to achieve it. Six private agencies are currently deployed at the landfill to process legacy waste, but around 16.4 lakh MT of unprocessed garbage remains.
The fire at the Bandhwari landfill is a reminder of the urgent need to address waste management issues in India. Landfills are a major source of air and water pollution, and can also pose a health hazard to nearby communities. The government needs to take steps to promote sustainable waste management practices and reduce the amount of garbage that is sent to landfills.
