Delhi to Turn Landfills into Green Spaces
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is taking significant strides to address the growing environmental challenge of waste mounds in the city. A compre-hensive roadmap has been developed to manage landfills in Bawana and Singhola, both of which have become major concerns due to increasing waste accumulation. The MCD’s approach focuses on environmentally friendly methods, including biomining and converting landfills into “green mountains” to promote sustainable waste management.
The Bawana landfill, a long-standing source of environmental pollution, is slated for transformation into a green space. The MCD plans to turn it into a “green mountain,” aligning with its goal to restore natural landscapes and reduce pollution. Similarly, the Singhola mound, which has accumulated silt over the years, is set to be flattened by August 2025 through biomining. This process will clear the land and create space for future urban use.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been actively involved, urging authorities to act swiftly as the waste mounds continue to grow. The MCD revealed that the Bawana landfill was set up on a 100-acre plot in compliance with solid waste management rules and received approval from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to operate an engineered sanitary landfill. However, the consent expired in June 2024, and the renewal application is pending.
The MCD is legally bound to convert the Bawana landfill into a “green mountain,” a step towards mitigating pollution and fostering sustainable urban development. The Singhola site, originally used for diverting silt post-drain cleaning, became a major waste mound after the collapse of the Ghazipur landfill in 2017. Since November 2024, the MCD has begun biomining the site, and over 2 lakh metric tonnes of silt have been removed. The project is expected to be completed by August 2025, further contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable Delhi.
Experts stress that transforming waste mounds into green spaces is only part of the solution. For long-term environmental sustainability, efforts in waste reduction, segregation, and recycling must be intensified, alongside public awareness and community participation in waste management.
