A major political controversy has erupted in Delhi over the disposal of garbage from landfill sites. AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj has openly challenged Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta regarding the safety of the waste being shifted. He stated that if the garbage from Bhalswa landfill is truly safe, the leaders should dump just one truck of it in their government bungalow lawns instead of residential areas.
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Why has the AAP leader raised health concerns?
Saurabh Bhardwaj has raised serious alarms about the health risks posed by shifting untreated waste to populated areas like Kirari and Karala. He claims that this garbage contains hazardous materials such as microplastics, polythene, and glass. According to him, dumping this waste in low-lying areas will contaminate the groundwater and potentially turn Delhi into the “Cancer Capital” of India.
The AAP leader has urged journalists to visit these sites with environmental scientists to verify the toxicity of the dumped layers. Local residents in Kirari have already reported issues like unbearable stench, eye irritation, and throat problems due to the waste dumping near their homes. He accused the authorities of simply moving “legacy waste” to show progress instead of processing it scientifically.
What are the official deadlines and project details?
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is working under strict timelines to flatten the city’s major landfills. The deadline for the Okhla landfill is set for July 2026, while the Bhalswa landfill is targeted to be cleared by December 2026. The authorities have denied allegations of fraud and maintain that work is proceeding according to plans.
Government bodies are also managing huge drainage projects in the affected areas to handle waterlogging concerns which might get worse with garbage dumping. The key project costs involved in these areas are:
- Kirari–Mundka Halt Drain: ₹220.93 crore
- Kirari–Rithala Trunk Drain (DDA): ₹250.21 crore
Currently, Delhi generates about 11,332 tonnes of waste daily, but there is still a significant gap in the processing capacity regarding the legacy waste.
