Ghazipur Landfill has become a notorious landmark globally. Efforts for its eradication persist, yet it grabbed headlines recently due to a catastrophic fire. This incident shrouded the region in toxic gases and smoke. Spanning 70 acres, the Ghazipur Landfill site commenced in 1984, peaking at a towering height of nearly 65 meters, equivalent to that of the famous Qutub Minar. However, this has now been reduced to 50 meters. Initially, the site was home to approximately 14 million tons of garbage. There was an original goal to clear the landfill by 2024, but the deadline has now been extended to 2026.
The Reason for the Deadline Extension
In 2019, the campaign to remove the waste accumulated at the Ghazipur Landfill site began when 140 metric tons of garbage lay in wait. Under the monitoring of the Lieutenant Governor, it was decided to transform the site into a park by 2024, yet this vision has yet to be realized.
Source: aajtak
According to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, it has only been possible to deal with about 46 metric tons of waste with the help of 25 trommel machines in five years. This is why the landfill's height has decreased, but it has not been completely eradicated, with 84 metric tons of garbage remaining.To expedite the waste disposal process, there were plans to bring in another agency, but these have been hindered by administrative obstacles, as the corporation lacks a permanent committee formation.
These Are the Reasons for the Non-Formation of the Corporation Committee
So far, only one agency has been engaged in the process to remove the waste mountain because the tender for selecting another agency has not been issued. The powerful standing committee within the corporation hasn't been constituted, which is essential as per the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, as any tender process must first be approved by this standing committee. This is why only one agency is working on the Ghazipur waste mountain, and the deadline for its complete removal has had to be pushed back to 2026 due to the slow pace of work.
Source: aajtak
Delhi Municipal Corporation's Public Relations Officer, Amit Kumar, states that the selection of a second agency to dispose of the remaining 30 million tons of waste at the Ghazipur Landfill has been stalled due to the non-formation of a permanent committee, thus the pace of waste disposal remains slow.
Urban expert Jagdish Mamgai points out that when fire occurs, not just Ghazipur but the entire area up to Mayur Vihar Phase 3 becomes polluted. Additionally, several studies have brought to light the contamination of underground water. Residents within a 7-kilometer radius of the landfill site are severely affected.
