Activists flag fresh dumping in Aravalli foothills, call it repeat offence

Activists allege MCF trucks are again offloading city garbage into the Aravalli foothills, calling it a repeat violation that endangers water and wildlife.

Alleging that the city’s waste was being dumped into the Aravalli foothills near Anangpur village, the Save Aravali Trust has accused the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) of engaging in an “unlawful and environmentally destructive act.”

Fresh complaints from the Save Aravali Trust allege city garbage is being dumped again near Anangpur despite court orders and past warnings. (HT)

MCF officials, meanwhile, said “strict” action will be taken against any person or contractor found responsible.

The members of the trust alleged that MCF trucks have been transporting daily municipal waste and offloading it into abandoned quarries in the Aravalli foothills near Anangpur village, which are currently filled with rainwater. The practice, it said, poses a grave threat to biodiversity, groundwater recharge, and the health of nearby communities.

Maninder Singh, a member of the Save Aravali Trust, said: “Dumping garbage into the Aravallis is not only illegal but a direct assault on public health and the environment. This is a crime against the city’s natural heritage.” Singh added that the corporation must immediately stop the dumping and initiate an investigation to identify those responsible.

Responding to the allegations, MCF commissioner, Dhirendra Khadgata, said: “We have received reports regarding alleged dumping in the Aravallis near Anangpur. A team will be sent for immediate inspection, and strict action will be taken against any person or contractor found responsible.”

Raju Rawat, another member of the Save Aravali Trust, said the dumping is happening with “complete disregard for environmental norms” and appears to have the “support” of a local councillor. “It is deeply disturbing that even after repeated court orders and citizen appeals, the authorities are turning forest land into an open landfill. Such actions destroy not only ecology but also public trust,” Rawat said.

Vijay Benjwal of the trust warned that the garbage heaps could contaminate groundwater and drinking sources across the region. “Leachate from this waste will seep into underground aquifers, poisoning the water we drink. The Aravallis act as a natural recharge zone — if they are destroyed, Faridabad will face an irreversible ecological and health disaster,” he said.

The organisation said the act is particularly concerning as it comes when the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has prohibited dumping at the Bandhwari landfill. “Instead of finding sustainable waste management solutions, MCF is quietly shifting the problem into the Aravallis — a fragile ecological zone that safeguards the region’s environment,” it alleged.

Activists warn the dumping could poison groundwater and damage fragile forest zones. (HT)

Environmentalists warn that the incident highlights a dangerous pattern of shifting the city’s waste burden into ecologically fragile areas, despite multiple court orders. “This isn’t just a civic failure, it’s a sign of how easily our last green lungs are being buried under garbage,” local environmentalist Vaishali Rana said.

Residents and activists who visited the site shared photos and videos allegedly showing truckloads of waste being dumped near forest edges. The trust also alleged that those raising objections were being intimidated and threatened, calling it an attempt to “silence” public dissent.

The trust has demanded an immediate stop to dumping, sealing of the site, and an on-ground investigation by the district administration, police, and environmental authorities. It has also urged the NGT, CPCB, and CGWB to form an independent probe panel and called for free testing of local water and health samples for affected residents.

The Save Aravali Trust said it would pursue legal action and launch a public movement if immediate steps are not taken.