Gurgaon: The Bandhwari landfill site has seen an expansion over the past 18 months, extending well beyond its legally sanctioned boundaries, according to locals and activists. The landfill has purportedly encroached upon at least 20 acres, which residents claimed is part of the legally protected Aravali forest land, which is protected under Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), requiring the forest department’s approval for non-forest activities.The expansion has raised alarms, particularly due to the spread of leachate—a toxic liquid byproduct of decomposing waste—into the adjacent forest zone. The Aravali ecosystem is crucial for maintaining regional air quality and groundwater recharge, and contamination poses health hazards. In response to this, a forest department team visited the site, instructing MCG to take immediate corrective measures to prevent leachate contamination. “Leachate is spilling into the Aravalis. We have told MCG to immediately take corrective steps,” said Subhash Yadav, forest conservator (south Haryana).The landfill now covers more than 30 acres, intensifying pressure on the authorities to enforce compliance with legal and environmental standards. Despite warnings held earlier, including those issued in March 2023, no substantial corrective actions have been taken. Environmental activists said the problems transcends waste management, highlighting encroachments on protected forest land by a govt agency. “This is not just about waste management anymore. It’s a clear case of forest land being gradually eaten up by a govt agency itself,” said Vaishali Rana, an environmentalist.Residents, like Harbir Harsana, express edfrustration over the encroachment and its impact on their communities. “Landfill has been encroaching on land which is not earmarked for it. Leachate is intentionally pushed towards our village. We have been suffering. We understand that MCG needs space to process waste, but they need to follow the norms. They have enough land, and they should stick to it. MCG is encroaching on land which doesn’t belong to it,” Harsana added.The landfill, originally spread over 28.9 acres and reaching a height of 38m, lacks a proper waste treatment facility. Despite this, approximately 2,200 metric tonnes of waste are added daily, exacerbating environmental concerns and threatening the surrounding ecosystem.In response to encroachment allegations, the forest department plans to conduct an official demarcation of the area to assess the extent of illegal expansion and determine if protected land has been compromised. The assessment will likely inform further actions or penalties if violations are confirmed. “We will carry out demarcation of the area and we will get it clear,” said Raj Kumar, divisional forest officer (DFO).In September 2022, National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed an environmental compensation of Rs 100 crore on the Haryana govt for environmental damage caused by waste dumping in the Bandhwari forest area. The tribunal urged the state govt to implement corrective measures, leading to formation of an NGT panel. The panel recommended construction of a temporary wall and use of two acres for disposal of daily garbage from Gurgaon and Faridabad to manage the legacy waste effectively.
