MCG plans drainage system around Bandhwari to stop leachate spill
The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram is planning to build a drainage system around the Bandhwari landfill to prevent leachate from contaminating waterbodies and the protected Aravallis range. The decision comes after a waterbody was polluted by leachate leak from the landfill. The landfill contains over 3.6 million tonnes of legacy waste waiting to be processed. The MCG was fined INR100 crore ($13.5m) by the National Green Tribunal for failing to manage the landfill.
Gurugram: The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) is planning to construct a drainage system around the Bandhwari landfill to stop leakage of leachate into the neighbouring waterbodies and the protected Aravallis range, civic body officials said on Friday.
Gurugram, India-May 09, 2023: A water pit in forest area where leachate mix into water bodies near Bandhwari waste treatment plant at Gurugram-Faridabad road; The district wildlife department wrote to the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram(MCG), complaining spillage of leachate from the Bandhwari landfill into the water bodies (mining pits) in Aravalli forests and wildlife drinking the same leading to infection and life threat, in Gurugram, India, on Tuesday, 09 May 2023. (Photo by Parveen Kumar/Hindustan Times)(Pic to go with Leena Dhankar's story)
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The decision to build the drainage system comes a week after a waterbody got polluted with leachate leak from the landfill that consists of more than 3.6 million tonnes of legacy waste waiting to be processed as per the orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Officials said water in the pond used by wild animals had turned purple and became harmful for consumption after the leakage.
On Tuesday, the district wildlife department wrote to the MCG after leachate from the landfill contaminated the waterbody.
MCG joint commissioner Naresh Kumar said the order to start the drainage construction around the landfill was issued during a meeting on Tuesday evening. “Additional commissioner Jaideep Kumar headed the meeting and the engineering wing of the MCG has been given the nod to proceed with the construction,” he said.
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Officials said it is not the first time that the MCG had come up with a plan to construct a drainage system at the garbage dumping site.
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Officials said it is not the first time that the MCG had come up with a plan to construct a drainage system at the garbage dumping site.
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“Earlier in 2018, a major drainage system was constructed but it was only along the road leading to Bandhwari village to stop the leakage of leachates from the landfill. But over a period of time, the drain became dysfunctional due to lack of maintenance,” said a senior MCG official. “The leachates also contaminate underground aquifers over a period of time,” he added.
Earlier, the NGT had slapped a fine of ₹100 crore on the MCG for failing to properly manage the Bandhwari landfill and processing its legacy waste. The NGT had also formed committees in the past for inspecting leachate leak from the landfill.
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Bandhwari is one of the largest landfills in north India and towers above mesquite forests and surrounds the Aravallis.
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.
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