Gurugram DC orders faster clean-up of Bandhwari legacy waste, new drone survey

Authorities will conduct a fresh drone survey of the landfill and identify a separate site for handling newly generated waste.

Published on: Jun 9, 2026, 07:24:32 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Gurugram deputy commissioner Uttam Singh on Monday directed civic agencies to nearly double the processing capacity of legacy waste at the Bandhwari landfill site and conduct a fresh drone-based assessment to ascertain the exact quantity of accumulated garbage, officials said.

Officials have been asked to assess the remaining garbage through drone mapping and prepare an updated disposal strategy. (HT Archive)

The directions were issued during a joint review meeting at the Mini Secretariat attended by officials of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Municipal Corporation Gurugram (MCG) and the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB).

Singh instructed officials to increase the current processing capacity of around 3,000 metric tonnes per day to nearly double that amount to accelerate clearance of waste accumulated over several years. “The pace of legacy waste disposal needs to be enhanced significantly so that the long-pending environmental challenge can be addressed in a time-bound manner,” the DC said.

Officials were also directed to undertake fresh drone-based mapping and assessment of the landfill to determine the exact volume of remaining waste and assess the site’s current status, enabling agencies to prepare a more effective disposal strategy.

The DC further asked departments to identify a separate site for disposal and management of fresh waste. Segregating newly generated waste from legacy waste would allow the remediation process at Bandhwari to continue without additional burden on the landfill.

The meeting also reviewed compliance by bulk waste generators (BWGs), including large residential complexes, commercial establishments and institutions generating substantial quantities of waste. Singh directed BWGs to ensure scientific disposal and processing in accordance with prescribed norms, saying greater compliance would reduce pressure on the municipal waste management system and improve efficiency of waste handling across the city.

The Bandhwari landfill remains one of Gurugram’s most significant environmental concerns, with authorities undertaking biomining and scientific remediation of the decades-old waste mound amid pressure to accelerate waste processing and strengthen segregation and disposal systems in line with environmental regulations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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