Gurgaon: MCG has denied allegations that toxic leachate from Bandhwari landfill is flowing into agricultural fields, despite National Green Tribunal (NGT) acknowledging that over 17 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of legacy waste still remains unprocessed at the landfill.In a status report, the civic body submitted to NGT that there are no residential areas or agricultural fields in the vicinity of the landfill, adding that forest land, villages and farmlands are located at a considerable distance. The report further stated that no leachate overflow was found in agricultural fields.It added that during heavy rains in 2025, some runoff water travelled through natural cracks towards a farmhouse in Bandhwari village, but the accumulated water was pumped out through tankers. Moreover, the civic body also informed the tribunal that there are no takers for the fresh waste processing tender at Bandhwari. The tender was first invited on Dec 15, 2025, but no bid was received. Another tender was invited on Jan 7 this year, but no bid was received. Subsequently, the tender was floated for the third time on Jan 30, but no bid was received. MCG has now sent a revised proposal to the ULB department on March 10 for reconsideration and revision of the approved rates and estimate so that the tender may attract participation from eligible agencies.MCG stated that 53.5 lakh MT of waste was received at the landfill since Jan 2023, out of which 36.28 lakh MT was processed through biomining and bioremediation processes. Despite these efforts, 17.27 lakh MT of legacy waste remain at the site, the report states.The civic body also informed the tribunal that waste processing at the landfill started in the first week of March and 15 lakh MT of legacy waste will be processed by Jan 2027. Moreover, MCG mentioned in its affidavit that it also hired a consultant to prepare a detailed project report (DPR), which includes various provisions such as designing a leachate treatment plant with a capacity of 300 kilolitres per day (KLD), construction of an RCC boundary wall along the landfill forest area to prevent seepage of leachate, sedimentation, etc. These measures will be done to prevent leachate run-off to the forest area. The DPR, with an estimated cost of Rs 24.8 crore, was submitted to DULB on Dec 11, 2025.MCG on March 9 wrote to the MCF commissioner again to stop the dumping of waste from Faridabad at the Bandhwari landfill site to reduce the burden on the Bandhwari landfill.MCG also submitted that HSPCB imposed Rs 6.3 crore as environmental compensation on MCG at the rate of Rs 10 lakh per month from April 2020. The civic body submitted that compensation up to the month of Sept 2025 was made, and the remaining compensation for the last quarter from Oct 2025 to Dec 2025 will be made by March 20, 2026.
